MegaStar site to relaunch in time for Oscars night

and Tribal DDB to overhaul the lads' news, gossip and sport site, in a

bid to be the UK's "number one alternative news site" and take on Emap's

FHM.com.

It has earmarked a relaunch date of late March to coincide with the

Oscars awards ceremony and is expected to offer some promotional

activity based around the event.

Sports.com bought the site from Express Newspapers last May as the

publisher divested its consumer internet interests. The site made its

name with a raunchy £3m above-the-line campaign at the end of 2000

aimed at information-hungry lads.

"The redesign is geared up to be much more appealing to potential

advertisers," said MegaStar editor Paddy O'Clery. Sports.com group

director of marketing Bobby Markowitz will oversee marketing of the

site.