News – English National Opera sponsorship

English National Opera (ENO) has secured an unprecedented £3m sponsorship deal with BSkyB and Artsworld, through which the satellite channels will be given exclusive rights to broadcast ENO performances over the next three years.

This level of sponsorship is a major boost to ENO’s previously precarious financial position as it prepares to return to its Coliseum home in February 2004. Corporate cash is also behind Scottish Ballet’s Christmas show, The Nutcracker (pictured). Bank of Scotland has confirmed continuing sponsorship of over £100,000, enabling Scottish Ballet to tour the production to Belfast. It will be the first time the company has been to Northern Ireland in over twenty years. As well as performances at the Grand Opera House, it will be running an extensive education programme including free tickets for local children. HBOS, Bank of Scotland’s parent company, employs approximately 1,500 people at a call centre in South Belfast.