First FIFA World Cup portal for China selected

China's leading online media, search and mobile value-added services company,announced today during a press conference that it has officially entered into an agreement with SMGBB.cn, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group, to form a strategic partnership to provide FIFA World Cup 2006 online video content in China. SMGBB.cn has been granted first ever exclusive authorization from FIFA to provide broadband internet video content of the World Cup 2006 event in mainland China and has selected Sohu.com as its exclusive portal partner.

Dr Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Sohu.com, commented, "As Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Internet Content Sponsor and now SMGBB.cn's World Cup 2006 Exclusive Online Video Content Portal Partner, Sohu is taking the lead in becoming a major international online sports content provider in China. 2006 so far has been an excellent year for Sohu and we believe these partnerships will further solidify our sports content channel."

During the World Cup, Sohu.com and SMGBB.cn will jointly establish a World Cup channel, delivering real-time video highlights and tournament photos directly to football fans in China. The channel will feature exclusive World Cup 2006 content including event highlights, select clips, behind the scene footage in all the 64 tournaments and comprehensive reports -- all readily available online through rich media formats.