EMAP Radio seals Warner Cinemas sponsorship deal

EMAP Radio has signed a sponsorship deal with Warner Village Cinemas, which will see programme slots branded with the cinema chain on some of its stations six times a week.

The new show, called MovieZone, will carry previews of films about to be released. It will air on five of EMAP’s biggest radio stations:

Hallam FM in Sheffield; Metro in Newcastle; Aire FM in Leeds; Rock FM in Preston, and Key 103 in Manchester.

These stations have a combined weekly reach of 1.8 million listeners. The year-long deal begins this week.

The deal was signed by EMAP Radio’s sales house, EMAP On Air. EMAP On Air sponsorship co-ordinator Richard Jacobs says: “Film is very important to the listeners we reach on our big city stations. It is a key part of their lifestyles. We wanted to link up with a big cinema player to cater for this need.”

Jacobs adds that the group will look to expand its involvement in cinema on other EMAP stations. The company has 19 stations in all.

Warner Village cinemas has 22 sites in the UK, and plans to have 50 venues by 2001.