Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s media team has become the first English First Class County to agree a partnership with Blinder, the new digital PR support tool.
Blinder, which originally launched in Australasia in late 2016, allows media and PR teams to provide scheduled opportunities for members of the media and fans to speak to athletes and talent by phone, whilst protecting the privacy of personal contact details.
As a club, we’re always keen to innovate and look at new products that improve our output and experience for all parties.
Tom Rawlings
The product has an online portal and smartphone app, which schedules interviews and provides the caller and interviewee with all access and timing details. Calls can also be recorded, which supports media training and allows clubs to generate content, especially through fan engagement.
Tom Rawlings, Head of Media Relations at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We were hugely impressed with Blinder when we first trialled the product. It completely professionalises our phone interview process, firstly by protecting the contact details of the player/coach, but also by providing a great scheduling tool and app that we can use on the go.
“As a club, we’re always keen to innovate and look at new products that improve our output and experience for all parties.
“The feedback that we’ve received so far from our players and journalists has been excellent, and I believe that Blinder will soon be adopted by more sporting organisations around the world.”
Among the organisations Blinder is already working with are New Zealand Rugby, the Australian Football League, Cardiff City Football Club and the Italian Rugby team. However, Blinder also has very strong links in cricket through its relationships with former New Zealand international players Scott Styris, Simon Doull and Stephen Fleming who are investors in the business.
Caley Wilson, co-founder of Blinder and a former media manager of New Zealand Rugby League, said: “We work with innovative sports teams around the world and we’re delighted, and unsurprised, to see Warwickshire CCC leading the charge in English cricket.
“They’re a hugely respected name in world sport, have been home to some of the game’s finest ever players, and right from our first conversations they’ve been full of ideas for improving this space for everyone.”
You can see more about Blinder at www.blinderHQ.com
