Perform Sales expands with No. 9 Media acquisition

by Ann-Marie Corvin, Media Week 05-Jun-08, 15:03

LONDON - Perform Sales, the commercial arm of online publisher Perform, has acquired rival No.9 Media to expand its ad network to more than 11.5 million unique users.

Perform's ad network already includes sites for football clubs such as West Ham United, Fulham and Rangers, and also manages online ad sales for Virgin Media's V Player video network. This syndicates sports videos featuring Premier League clubs, across websites including The Sun and The Times.

The No. 9 Media network includes football and sports portals attracting three million unique users and more than 30 million page impressions, including Goal.com, FansFC.com, Clubfanzine.com, EatSleepSport.com, Football.co.uk and Footy boots.com.

No.9 Media was founded by Iain Linkleter and Justin Brookfield. Linkleter, chief executive at No.9 Media, joins the board of Perform Sales as a non-executive director and will remain involved in the management of No.9 Media.

Oliver Slipper, joint chief executive at Perform, said: "The launch of the V Player in August 2007 ensured we operated the largest premium sports video network in the UK. The acquisition of No.9 Media gives us an even stronger position in the display market."

Key employees from No. 9 Media will transfer to Perform, including Darren Kietz who will become sales director.

Last month, Perform acquired an undisclosed stake in celebrity gossip site, Holy Moly, in a bid to expand its entertainment portfolio.