Turner Broadcasting to sponsor Dare to be Digital

Media giant Turner Broadcasting — owners of CNN and part of the Time Warner group — has announced its sponsorship of Dare to be Digital 2008.

Dare to be Digital challenges competitors to create prototype videogame entertainment in a short space of time, and this year is looking beyond the UK for the first time.

"[Turner Broadcasting's] support is a huge boost to our plans to raise GBP 1 million to support Dare to be Digital for the next two years, and a measure of how seriously the contest is now regarded by major creative and media businesses around the planet," commented Paul Durrant, director of Dare to be Digital.

"We plan to greatly increase the scope of this yearâs competition, with almost twice as many students as in 2007, taking part in several host centres across the UK and perhaps even overseas as well," he added.

Last year Dare to be Digital project Ragnarawk won the 'Ones to Watch' award at the annual BAFTA Awards ceremony.

Over its eight years, Dare to be Digital has generated five companies, two product deals and has helped 80 per cent of participants find employment in the videogame sector.

"We're delighted to support Dare to be Digital and any initiative that fosters talent and diversity within our industry," added Casey Harwood, senior VP for digital media at Turner.

"Gaming is a particularly high growth area, complementary to our own target audiences and digital output, and this sponsorship presents us with yet another opportunity to build on our understanding of the format and the range of emerging digital platforms."