John Fairfax Holdings Limited
ACN 008 663 161

Thursday, October 14, 1999: F2, the Fairfax Interactive Network, today launched sportstoday.com.au, a ‘sportal’ which aggregates information from the company’s specialist sports sites to provide in-depth information and a host of interactive features.

The new sports portal is both informative and entertaining, so it will appeal to fans of all ages. In addition to live news feeds, reviews, articles and photographs, the site includes games, competitions, gossip from behind the scenes and commentary from several sports stars. It will also have video or audio footage for major sporting events.

Continuous local and international coverage provides for sports such as cricket, tennis, horse racing, motor sports, golf, rugby union, basketball, rugby league, soccer, AFL and the Olympics. Seasonal and events-based coverage will also be delivered for over 45 sports such as swimming, cycling, extreme sports, sailing, athletics, gymnastics, boxing, etc.

According to Nigel Dews, Chief Executive of F2, "Fairfax has a strong sports heritage through its print publications and specialist sites such as rugbyheaven.com, cricket.fairfax.com.au, footy99.com.au and LeagueHQ.

"sportstoday.com.au complements our existing sports sites – it is a simple gateway to them with extensive information from our newspapers and commentators. It will appeal to sports fans of all types and ages because it combines the most comprehensive online sports coverage in Australia with features that entertain and involve them.

"It is an online sporting community where fans are encouraged to actively participate. They can send in photos and stories, barrack for their favourite team, or talk to each other through forums and chats.

"Live news feeds and score updates ensure fans never miss the action – they can get their sports fix whether they’re at work or home," said Mr Dews.

Fans can also get the latest news via e-mail, play an animated rugby game, participate in tipping competitions, send a FootyGram to their friends, take a Quiz to find out if they really are the biggest sports fan, or get a free e-mail address.

There are five newsletters to choose from and forums such as Stable Talk, First Slip, Fast Lane and the 19th Tee. Fans can even be a sports journalist for a day by sending in articles and photographs which may be used on the site.

Frequent users of the site will be rewarded for their participation and there will be regular major promotions that give fans the chance to win fantastic sporting prizes.

Summary of Key Online Features

Live: live text coverage of games and online barracking

Forums: available for all major sports so the fans can have their say

TV Highlights: outlines upcoming pay and free-to-air sports coverage

Cool Stuff: includes Cricket and FootyGrams, quiz games, animated rugby game, grand prix game, and show your stuff

Experts: sports stars have their say

The Whisper: gossip about sports stars

Photo gallery: purchase favorite sporting photographs from The Age and SMH

Polls: available for each sport and results are calculated on the spot

Show Your Stuff: send in photographs of look-a-likes, stories, drawings, poems, mascots

E-Sports: express delivery of news and views via email - select from a general sports wrap-up, AFL, rugby union, cricket and horse racing.

Calendar: search by sport, day, week or month

Buy and Sell: sports memorabilia for sale

– ENDS –

Note to editors

John Fairfax Holdings Limited [ASX:FXJ] is Australia’s leading publishing group. Its newspapers and magazines include The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Sun Herald, and BRW. In addition, the company publishes financial and consumer magazines, and provides online services.
In 1999, the company had revenues of over $1.1 billion.

F2, the Fairfax Interactive Network, is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Fairfax Holdings Limited [ASX:FXJ].
It is Australia’s leading content provider on the Internet with around 1.4 million page views per day across a network of sites which include: news (smh.com.au, theage.com.au, sunherald.com.au and it.fairfax.com.au); business (afr.com.au and brw.com.au); finance (tradingroom.com.au, moneymanager.com.au, shares.aust.com and personalinvestor.com.au); automotive (drive.com.au); search/directory (melbournetoday.com.au); employment (mycareer.com.au and itjobs.fairfax.com.au); online auctions (SOLD.com.au); real estate (market.fairfax.com.au and apn.brw.com.au); sports (sportstoday.com.au, rugbyheaven.com.au, footy99.com.au, cricket.fairfax.com.au and smh.com.au/league); travel (walkabout.com.au); city guides for Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra (citysearch.com.au); Big Colour Pages, the only complete national Internet and print business directory; and free email (todaymail.com.au).

For further information, please contact:

F2
Lindy Yarnold lyarnold@mail.fairfax.com.au
Tel: (02) 9282 3119

Hill and Knowlton
Elisa Klosterman ekloster@hillandknowlton.com.au
Tel: (02) 9966 1255

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