Portfolio Update

NewMedia SPARK PLC
20 April 2001

20 April 2001

NewMedia SPARK Portfolio Update

NewMedia SPARK plc ('SPARK') today announces that one of its investee
companies, Wireless Commerce Limited ('WCL') has been sold to the Finnish
wireless technology company Mgine Technologies OY ('Mgine'). Mgine has also
agreed to acquire the mobile telephony systems and integration operations of
Done Wireless OY and the entire issued share capital of Capslock OY, a leading
Finnish provider of mobile terminal transcribing technologies. Spark will own
approximately 10% of the enlarged share capital of Mgine following this
transaction. The enlarged Mgine will be a leading provider of software and
services in the mobile telephony environment. It will employ approximately 175
people, have pro-forma sales in excess of Euro 15m for 2001, and its customers
and partners will include ebay, Ericsson, Nokia, Sonera, Telia, KPMG, Compaq
and Teletext. The Group's offering will include mobile personalisation and
positioning, terminal transcoding, m-commerce enabling platforms and general
consulting and systems integration activities. SPARK believes that the
enlarged Group will be a leading player in the mobile telephony environment in
Europe, and is well placed to achieve rapid and profitable growth as well as
act as a focus for further consolidation in this sector. The enlarged Group
expects to list on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in October 2001.

SPARK also announces that eTV Broadcasting AB has signed a contract with TDC
Kabel TV (formerly TeleDanmark) to broadcast eTV's interactive TV channels to
TDC Kabel TV's growing base of approximately 1 million digital cable
subscribers. eTV Broadcasting AB, of which SPARK is the majority owner, is the
largest investment in SPARK's portfolio. This contract represents the third
major distribution contract won by eTV Broadcasting AB enabling it to
broadcast across the whole Nordic region whether by digital satellite, digital
cable, digital terrestrial or broadband delivery channels and across multiple
operating platforms. eTV Broadcasting AB began broadcasting in 1999 as the
only licensed interactive TV channel on Sweden's digital terrestrial platform.
eTV Broadcasting AB has created one of Europe's leading interactive TV
application development teams which, taken together with its broadcasting,
fulfillment and consulting capabilities, the company intends to develop into a
substantial business in this growing market.

Commenting on these developments Michael Whitaker, CEO of SPARK, said:

'These developments at WCL and eTV are symptomatic of the intensive work that
has been taking place in recent months across SPARK's entire portfolio of
investments. We have been working closely with our more successful companies
to consolidate and build upon their leadership positions, and despite
difficult market conditions we are encouraged by their progress - indeed
several have now reached profitability. We also continue to be rigorous in
ceasing to fund our less successful investments. We will be giving a full
update on developments within the portfolio in our preliminary results in
early June.'


For further information, please contact:

Michael Whitaker

NewMedia SPARK                         0207 851 7777

Lawerence Dore

Mantra                                 0207 072 2300



Notes to editors

NewMedia SPARK

NewMedia SPARK Plc is a leading early stage TMT investor. SPARK currently has
a portfolio of over 50 investments in early-stage companies in Europe and
India. SPARK focuses its investments on core software applications,
communications infrastructure businesses and certain areas of digital media
such as music and financial products. SPARK has operations in London,
Stockholm, Berlin and Madrid and has established a presence in India. The
SPARK team is one of the most experienced in Europe, with skills ranging from
investment banking and venture capital, to the active involvement in the
formation and running of technology companies. NewMedia SPARK is listed on the
London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market.