London – October 16, 2000: Sportal, the leading global provider of interactive sports content, has concluded a number of high profile deals which further reinforce it’s position as one of the leading sports websites in France.

In the first of a series of deals, which step up the pace of industry consolidation, Sportal has acquired outright BasketUSA.com, the leading NBA Basketball website in France. BasketUSA.com will remain as a dedicated site with its distinct URL but will also provide content for Sportal.fr.

‘BasketUSA has a very strong, loyal, dedicated and predominantly young following,’ says Alexandre Fourtoy, Managing Director of Sportal.fr, ‘By adding this site to the Sportal network we are acquiring a very desirable property with great community.’

Sportal.fr has further extended its distribution and is now the main sports partner of the Libertysurf group in France. Sportal.fr will provide all sports information for both the sports channel Libertysurf sports and Nomade sports. In addition, sportal.fr will provide live football content for both platforms

In a series of separate deals, Sportal.fr will be the main sports provider for Everyday.com, and the new portal operated by the French Post Office, Illiclic.com. Sportal will also provide football, rugby and basketball content for Spray.fr and Skyrock, one of the major youth radio stations in France.

In a move that further expands Sportal.fr’s mobile presence, the network will be the main sports news provider for MViva, part of the Carphone Warehouse, WAP portal.

Sportal.fr remains the main sports content provider for Yahoo! in France.

For further information please contact Mark Thursfield on 0207 350 4825
or via e-mail, mark.thursfield@sportal.net