Rivals.net, Europe’s largest network of independent sports sites, is sponsoring a package of interactive initiatives across Channel 4’s Football Italia programming, magazine and web site, for one year.

The deal will give Rivals.net on-screen credits during both Gazetta Football Italia and Football Italia Live – programmes that air weekly on Saturday andSunday. As part of the deal, Rivals.net will also receive prominent branding on the front cover of the programme’s monthly Football Italia magazine plus a full colour page ad in every issue. In addition Rivals.net plans to host and promote the Football Italia web site on its network.

The Football Italia programme reaches a weekly audience of over one million people, with its magazine having a worldwide circulation of more than 70,000. The soon-to-be-launched Football Italia website is expected to attract tens of thousands of viewers every day.

As part of the initiative Rivals.net will also provide prizes for the programmes’ monthly Golden Goals competitions giving viewers the chance to win trips to Milan derbies and other Italian football events in return for verbal and onscreen credits. Branding will also feature on the competition phone line.

Marcus Leaver, chief executive officer of Rivals.net, said: ‘Channel 4’s Football Italia programmes are watched by die hard football fans – the core of our network’s audience.’

For further information contact:
Mark Terry on 020 8962 1300
mterry@rivals.net