WIDNES Vikings are one of six Tetley Super League clubs to benefit from a £500,000 commercial deal.

The Vikings, along with Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, London Broncos, Castleford Tigers and Hull FC, have negotiated a perimeter advertising deal with two of the UK's top sports advertising agencies, Bermitz Sports of Manchester and Stadium Broadcast International (SBI), which will see the six clubs receive more than £300, 000.

The deal was struck against a background of renewed commercial optimism in the game and a new five year deal with Sky which has already seen a 10 per cent increase in viewing figures.

This, combined with the boom in club attendances, has provided a platform for an alliance between sports advertising specialists Bermitz Sports and Stadium Broadcast International (SBI) to bring major national brand names to the sport of rugby league such as JVC, Playstation and Wheat Crunchies.

SBI, part of the OMM group of companies, have invested a further £250,000 in the production and management of a rotating perimeter advertising system that will result in 60m of scrolling advertising at each of the clubs. The system provided by O'Neill Moving Media is installed at more than 45 per cent of premier league football grounds.