BT to sponsor peak ITV shows

BT is to sponsor three of ITV’s early evening shows in a £3m, three-month deal. It is the first time the channel’s early evening schedule has been sponsored in one block.

For 12 weeks from this Saturday (September 23), BT will sponsor Cilla’s Moment of Truth and Stars in Their Eyes. For the final six weeks of the sponsorship, Barrymore will replace Moment of Truth.

The BT programme bumpers will feature a Teletext page link. The move follows an ITC code change, which comes into force in October, allowing sponsors to offer more information to viewers.

Granada Media Commercial Ventures sponsorship and licensing director Martin Lowde says: “These shows all have massive family appeal – exactly the audience BT is trying to reach.”

BT consumer division managing director Angus Porter says: “This deal links BT to the prime family viewing of the week.”

The deal was negotiated by TAP and created by Drum PHD for BT. Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO is producing the sponsorship credits and break bumpers. The creative execution will mimic the ‘complete a challenge’ format of Moment of Truth by using the B and T characters to reveal the identities of various rock stars featured in Stars In Their Eyes.