FRE Freeplay

RNS Number:1636M
Freeserve PLC
13 June 2000

                          Health Channel Agreement

                                      
Freeserve announces exclusive health content, e-commerce and sponsorship deal
     with Superdrug, Planet Medica.com and Think Natural.com consortium


Freeserve  has  today  agreed  terms  with  a  unique  consortium  comprising
Superdrug, Planetmedica.com and ThinkNatural.com to be the exclusive  partner
for the Freeserve Health Channel.

The  Health Channel is being launched to meet the needs  of Freeserve's  1.9m
members,  many  of whom are increasingly looking for in-depth health  content
and advice allied to community and e-commerce opportunities.

Freeserve's Health Channel will combine the best elements of the consortium's
products  and services to create a single multi-purpose health and well-being
site  which  from this summer will be provided to Freeserve's 3  million-plus
unique users.  These offerings include:

    *   Planetmedica.com, a leading pan-European health content provider, will
        make available all its expert health advice and information as well as
        its interactive services

    *   ThinkNatural.com, a leading natural health site on the internet, will
        provide its full range of products, vitamins, minerals, supplements   
        and alternative health products on the channel

    *   Superdrug, a market leading high street retail brand in the UK, will
        provide an extensive range of health, beauty, OTC and prescription    
        medicines through its soon to be launched e-commerce service

    *   Freeserve will also use its proprietary Smartgroups.com  tools  to
        encourage, enhance and promote health communities on the Freeserve    
        portal.

Recognising  the value of exclusive access to the large and growing  base  of
Freeserve members the consortium has created a ground breaking partnership to
secure  this  tenancy and sponsorship agreement.   Financial  terms  are  not
being disclosed.

Commenting,  Nick  Backhouse,  Chief Financial  Officer  of  Freeserve,  said:
"Freeserve's  ability  to deliver scale to its partners  has  enabled  us  to
attract  a high quality consortium whose blend of health content and services
will create yet another specialty channel for our members."

Eric Souetre, CEO Planet Medica, said: "With its high quality content and
interactive medical tools, Planet Medica is ideally suited to answer all
users' health questions.  This exclusive deal is an important milestone in
strengthening the position of all three parties in leading the UK e-health
market."

Carol Dukes, CEO of ThinkNatural, said: "This deal is an important step
forward for ThinkNatural and for PlanetMedica as we emerge as clear leaders
in the field.  In addition, this deal also provides Superdrug with an
excellent launchpad for its forthcoming online service."


About Freeserve (www.freeserve.com)

Freeserve  is  the  UK's leading portal with an integrated  offering  of  UK-
focused  content, e-commerce services and free Internet access.  At March  12
2000,  Freeserve had 1.9 million active registered members and 162.8  million
page impressions in February 2000.

Freeserve  was  launched  in  September  1998  as  part  of the Dixons Group, 
Europe's  leading  consumer electronics retailer.  Freeserve  distributes its 
access software  through  Dixons  network  of  over  1,000 Dixons, Currys, PC
World,  The Link and @jakarta stores.


About ThinkNatural

ThinkNatural is Europe's leading online retailer of natural health products,
offering  thousands  of  vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, homeopathic
remedies and aromatherapy products.  Founded in 1999 by Carol Dukes and Emma
Crowe,  ThinkNatural  has  just  closed  a  second  round  of  funding  with
#10m invested by Superdrug's  parent company  Kingfisher  plc,  and  venture
capitalists led by Amadeus Capital Partners.


About PlanetMedica.com

Planet Medica is a leading European e-health portal offering high quality and
objective  health information and services through country-specific  consumer
web  sites  as well as aiming to provide Internet based solutions to  improve
care   management  and  communication  among  a  broad  range  of  healthcare
providers.  Planet Medica was founded in October 1999 and currently  operates
websites  in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Italy. For  more
corporate information  www.planetmedica.com.


About Superdrug

Superdrug  is now firmly established as the UK number two health  and  beauty
retailer.   Its offer combines quality with exceptional value  for  money  in
both  branded and own-branded products (of which there are more than  2,400).
To reinforce its health offer Superdrug has more than 185 in-store pharmacies
and 720 stores.

END

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