Sorpresa! & MLS Interactive Online partnership.

Juniper Content Corporation’s Sorpresa! Network and Major League Soccer (MLS) officially kicked-off their “Juega Como un MLS Pro” (translated “Play Like an MLS Pro”) seven-month, joint initiative to promote active and healthy lifestyles to young audiences. On May 10, Sorpresa! and MLS will use the MLS Futbolito! soccer tournament in Los Angeles as a launch pad for interactive online promotions designed to get children involved in the campaign.

Embracing youth’s passion for soccer, the promotions call for kids to get involved with MLS players through user-generated video interviews in which kids ask for tips on how to improve their skills. These user-generated videos are collected and hosted on the Sorpresa! and MLS’ jointly developed “Play Like an MLS Pro” website, accessible via http://www.sorpresatv.com/>, http://www.mlsnet.com/> and the League’s Spanish-language site, http://www.futbolmls.com/>. Videos will be posted for viewers to vote on which content and individual talent deserves to be featured on the Sorpresa! network.

The first element of the online promotion, the “Reporterito” contest, seeks to award a young winner as Sorpresa!’s official onsite MLS reporter, assigned to cover major MLS soccer events directly from the field. Aspiring sports journalists may enter the “Reporterito” contest by uploading video submissions featuring their reporting prowess onto http://www.sorpresatv.com/ from May 10 through June 13. The winning “Reporterito” will receive all-expense paid trips to the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game in Toronto on July 24 and MLS Cup 2008 in Los Angeles on November 23, and serve as a sideline reporter for Sorpresa!’s MLS sports segments.

Additionally, those entries earning significant online acclaim will be featured on a special Sorpresa! program in which MLS players answer the questions posed to them by their young fans. Kids may submit their video questions online at Sorpresa!’s website through October 26 for consideration in this portion of the promotion.

“This partnership is about getting our young Hispanic audience involved with both the media and MLS by celebrating soccer and promoting active lifestyles for youth across America,” said Maria Badillo, vice president of programming at Sorpresa!. “Our online contests will be an ideal opportunity for soccer fans to discover Sorpresa! and all of the unique Spanish-language children’s programming that we offer.”

Through this partnership, Sorpresa! and MLS will jointly market “Play Like an MLS Pro” at some of the MLS Futbolito and Verano MLS events. Sorpresa! will also have a presence at the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup events as part of the network’s grassroots effort to reach out to its Hispanic audience.