Compare the Market Unveiled as the New Sponsor of Coronation Street

LONDON, July 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

ITV Commercial have announced that comparethemarket.com will be the new sponsor of the nation's best loved soap, Coronation Street.

The fully integrated three-year sponsorship package was negotiated by ITV Commercial and Newcast, ZenithOptimedia's sponsorship and content division, on behalf of comparethemarket.com. The exclusive on and off-air partnership will include broadcast, online, mobile and licensing elements, bringing both brands to as many fans as possible.

Coronation Street is the UK's most popular soap, sitting at the heart of ITV1's peak time schedule, attracting an average audience of 9.4m viewers for each of its five episodes every week. In 2012 a peak audience of 12.5million viewers, or a massive 45% of the available TV audience, tuned in on January 23rd to watch Becky McDonald's dramatic exit from the show.

Simon Daglish, Group Commercial Director, ITV said: "We are delighted to be working with comparethemarket.com as a partner for Coronation Street. This is a long-term commitment from both parties around two of the most exciting and loved brands in the UK, which we believe will become the benchmark for partnerships going forward."

Paul Galligan, Managing Director of comparethemarket.com said: "Coronation Street is one of Britain's most entertaining and best loved TV shows and so we are delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious programme. We will be working closely with ITV to ensure this is a model partnership, utilising both on and off-air opportunities to take our brands to customers in new and exciting ways."

Paul Constantine, Managing Partner at ZenithOptimedia said: "Coronation Street is the jewel in the crown of the ITV schedule and we are extremely pleased to have secured this partnership for comparethemarket.com in this highly competitive sector."

SOURCE comparethemarket.com