What’s On TV Bags Soap Awards Sponsorship Deal

IPC Media’s best selling television listings magazine, What’s On TV, has been named as the official sponsor of this year’s British Soap Awards.

The deal will see the title sponsoring both the awards, to be held at BBC Television Centre, and the now infamous after show parties. What’s On TV has sponsored the prestigious event since 1998.

The evening will be hosted by comedian, Paul O’Grady, better known for his role as Lily Savage. He will introduce a star-studded line-up to reveal this year’s winners across the 17 individual categories.

Commenting on the sponsorship deal, Colin Tough, editor of What’s On TV, said: “We have supported The British Soap Awards since year one. It’s a spectacular red carpet event with all the stars of soapland turning out for what truly is popular television’s equivalent of the Oscars.”

The move follows increased competition in the television listings market. Hachette Filipacchi’s flagship Inside Soap magazine recently launched its first television advertising campaign for five years in an attempt to boost circulation and strengthen its position in the sector (see Inside Soap Looks To Boost Sales With Television Push).

The latest ABC results for the six months to December 2003 brought good news for What’s On TV magazine, which saw its circulation increase by 1.5% year on year to 1,654,843, up from 1,630,850 in the same period the previous year.

IPC Media: 0870 444 5000 www.ipcmedia.com

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