SWD Sportsworld

RNS Number:1891J
Sportsworld Media Group PLC
30 August 2001

30 August 2001


SPORTSWORLD CREATES NEW TV PRODUCTION UNIT AND

EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT WITH CHATTERBOX,

APPOINTING NEW SENIOR MANAGERS


Sportsworld Media Group plc - the brand-focussed sports and lifestyle
entertainment company - announced today the launch of a new UK independent
production company, Zeal Television, an exclusive agreement with The
Chatterbox Partnership and the appointment of two senior television managers.


Zeal will be responsible for Sportsworld's growing portfolio of non-sports
content, including: The Pepsi Chart, which is produced in more than 30
countries; Popstars for which Sportsworld jointly owns the format; and Search
for a Supermodel, which is in production in 11 countries. In addition, new
formats include Fantasy Fans, currently in production for TVNZ in New Zealand.
Based on its current productions, Zeal will have a turnover in excess of #10
million in its first financial year. This figure is expected to rise, given
the Company is currently in discussion with broadcasters on a number of new
commissions.



Significantly, Zeal has already secured a worldwide first-look arrangement
with The Chatterbox Partnership for the exclusive use and distribution of
their format catalogue. Chatterbox has one of the most experienced and
renowned format-creation teams in Europe and its productions include Pass The
Buck, On the Spot and Do Us A Favour for BBC1, Eddie Irvine-Inside Track for
Channel 4, Date That for Channel 5 and Stake Out for Challenge TV. Zeal will
work with Chatterbox to create formats for the UK and international television
markets and will take on the sale of all of Chatterbox's productions outside
the UK.



To drive the development of Zeal, Sportsworld has appointed Mark Linsey as
Managing Director. Mark joins from television production company Tiger Aspect,
where he was Head of Entertainment and a Board Director. He has a strong
background in television, with recent credits including Davina McCall's
Oblivious for ITV, The Lily Savage Show for BBC1, Closure for BBC Choice,
Guiding Stars for Sky One, Channel Izzard for Channel 4 and Something for the
Weekend for Channel 4 and Channel 7 in Australia.



Also joining Sportsworld is Andrea Jackson, who will lead Zeal's international
sales team. Andrea was most recently Head of International Sales at Mentorn
International where she set up the sales division and was responsible for the
international success of Robot Wars, Star for a Night, MTV's Fear, Today's the
Day and Techno Games.




In addition to expanding its UK operation, Zeal will open offices in the
Middle East and Australia, taking full advantage of Sportsworld's already
established presence in these regions.



Commenting on Zeal, the link with Chatterbox and the new appointments,
Sportsworld's Chief Executive, Geoff Brown said:



"The proliferation of television channels worldwide is increasing demand for
new programming, particularly in the areas of sport and entertainment. We
already have a strong presence in sport television and marketing arenas and
now with Zeal and Chatterbox we will further grow our entertainment
programming.



"We continue to strengthen our management team and are excited to have
attracted Mark and Andrea."



                                   - ENDS -





Enquiries:



Geoff Brown, Chief Executive
Shaun Whatling, Head of Group Communications
Sportsworld Media Group plc                             Tel: 020 7240 9626

Tim Spratt / Tania Wild
Financial Dynamics                                      Tel: 020 7831 3113

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