Aviva Insurance is to sponsor RTE2FM’s flagship nightly sports show Game On from this weekend through to the end of May.
The show, which is hosted by Hugh Cahill for an hour every weekday evening, features regular contributions from the likes of Ronan O’Gara on rugby and Eamon Dunphy on football.
Along with sponsorship of the show itself, Aviva will be creating four Game On International Specials, live from the Aviva Fan Studio in the Aviva Stadium on the Thursday evening before each of the five home international matches.
These International Specials will also be streamed live on RTÉ Player and across Aviva Social Media Channels. They reflect the rapidly changing environment of media programming around sport, blurring the lines between what was once an audio only experience into one where video and live interaction is now the norm.
Newstalk’s Off The Ball team have been on the road for specials with fans and engagement with sponsors and The Last Word has done similar events around that key early and evening slot for sports programming.
The deal works for Aviva because it highlights the stadium as being the centre of sporting attention during this key three month period and it elevates the Game On audience into being part of the show.
The brand is now into the second half of a ten year deal for naming rights on the stadium but there has been no indication of whether it is likely to continue. Earlier this week the insurer revealed it was selling its Aviva Health arm here to Irish Life but also that it had posted annual profits for the year gone of €91.2 million.
“The sponsorship of RTÉ 2fm’s Game On is a great partnership for us, particularly across these busy months for International sport in Ireland,” said Mark Russell, Sponsorship Manager for Aviva.
“It gives us a chance to partner with a great show that is to the fore in terms of analysing and broadcasting Irish international sport and it is an opportunity to bring our customers and social media fans and followers closer to some great guests with our outside broadcasts at the Aviva Stadium”
“With RTÉ taking you there for the best moments in Irish sport, it makes sense to partner with Aviva who are at the heart of Irish football and rugby,” added Dermot Rigley, Commercial Manager, RTÉ Media Sales.
“The sponsorship will not only give Game On listeners the chance to get closer to the show and some sporting legends with the outside broadcasts from the Aviva Fan Studio, but it will also give them the chance to avail of some unique match day experiences that only Aviva could provide at the Aviva Stadium.”
