SPO.L Regulatory News (SPO)

19 May 2006 11:00

Sportech PLC19 May 2006 Sportech PLC Sportech Launches World Cup 2006 Game: Goal Rush Sportech PLC ("Sportech", "the Company" or "the Group") is pleased to announcean exciting new game, Goal Rush, being launched in association with TrinityMirror plc ("Trinity Mirror"). Goal Rush, which carries a £3 million prize, the biggest prize ever offered inthe history of the Football Pools, is the first significant new product to beadded to the Company's Football Pools portfolio of games for over 50 years. Ithas been designed specifically around the World Cup 2006, with the view toattract new audiences and place the Football Pools business firmly back at theheart of the Group. The game requires players to guess the eight highest scoringmatches in the first 49 games of the World Cup. Goal Rush is being marketed through the existing Pools customer base and TrinityMirror will be promoting the game in the run-up to the World Cup through itsnewspaper titles and websites. Newspapers involved include the Daily Mirror, theSunday Mirror, The People and the Racing Post. Customers will be able to playGoal Rush via the website at www.worldcupgames.com and www.mirror.co.uk/goalrush. Commenting on the launch, Ian Penrose, Chief Executive of Sportech, said: "I am delighted to announce the launch of Goal Rush in association with TrinityMirror, enabling the game to reach across their extensive network of newspapertitles and websites. "The launch marks an important stage in Sportech's strategy to revitalize andrejuvenate the Littlewoods Pools business, through broadening our product rangeand widening our distribution channels. Goal Rush is the game that willcapitalise on the World Cup fever that is about to grip the nation, offeringplayers the opportunity to have even more fun and the possibility of winning alife-changing cash prize." Suzanne Ladhams, Head of Interactive Services at Trinity Mirror, said: "We are delighted that Littlewoods Pools have chosen Trinity Mirror as theirexclusive cross-media partner for the launch of Goal Rush. Their new venture isa perfect fit with our audience and established pool of Fantasy Footballplayers. "The strength, breadth and flexibility of our combined print and onlineportfolio makes Trinity Mirror a highly attractive option for this kind ofpartnership, and of course Goal Rush is great added value for our readers." - ends - Enquiries Sportech PLCIan Penrose, Chief Executive Officer 0151 288 3561 Bell Pottinger Corporate & FinancialDavid Rydell / Zoe Sanders 020 7861 3887 Trinity Mirror plcChris Wade 020 7510 6609 Notes to Editors Sportech PLC Sportech plc provides a variety of betting and gaming opportunities to over 1.7mcustomers through Littlewoods Gaming, one of the UK's most established brands. Drawing on over 80 years of experience, Littlewoods Gaming has developed awide-ranging product portfolio which includes football pools and football games,sports betting and on-line casino, poker and entertainment games includingbingo. Sportech is continually developing access to its gaming products through anetwork of channels including the internet, mobile phones, telephone, post and aUK network of collectors who visit customers at their homes. Sportech PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SPO). For more information,visit www.sportech-plc.co.uk Trinity Mirror plc Trinity Mirror plc is the UK's largest newspaper publisher, with a portfolio ofmore than 500 media brands. This includes some 240 local and regional newspapers, five national newspapersand four sports titles, as well as over 100 websites and a variety of magazines,directories and exhibitions. For more information visit www.trinitymirror.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange