BEIJING, CHINA, July 6, 2004
- China Open and SOHU.COM (Nasdaq: SOHU), China's leading online media,
communications, commerce and mobile value-added services company, have
entered into a five-year sponsorship agreement for the first-ever China
Open tennis championship to debut in the Olympic Capital Beijing from
September 10 – 26, 2004. Under this agreement SOHU has become the
Official Media Partner, Wireless Content Provider and Website of China
Open, making it one of the main tournament sponsors.
“We are very pleased to have entered into this landmark agreement
with SOHU, which is one of the most successful Internet companies in China
and at the cutting-edge of the new technologies available to the Chinese
public. They have tremendous management ability and will add great value
to China Open,” said Mr. Lincoln Venancio, Tournament Director of
China Open.
Under this five-year agreement SOHU wins the exclusive right to host,
develop and operate the Official China Open website and develop affiliated
online fan clubs. China Open also grants SOHU the exclusive right to webcast
daily highlights and post-match player interviews at the Official China
Open website and get access to ‘behind the scene' footage of China
Open, such as at the player lounge and practice court. During the Event
SOHU has the exclusive right to host two daily online chat sessions with
China Open players.
In addition, SOHU has been designated the exclusive partner to offer
the Chinese public wireless live scores, Event related news, pictures,
audio and video content on short messaging services (SMS), multimedia
messaging services (MMS), wireless application protocol (WAP) and interactive
voice response (IVR).
“We are pleased to have been selected as the exclusive Online and
Wireless Content Provider of China Open. We take pride in delivering the
excitement of sport to Internet users. Through this partnership SOHU gains
valuable access to exclusive sports content for the game of tennis in
the years leading up to the Olympic Games in 2008 and beyond. It helps
to further distinguish SOHU as the leading Internet player in China,”
said Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of SOHU.COM.
China Open will attract over 300 top ranking international players in
multiple competitions for men, women, junior and senior in singles and
doubles. It aims to become one of the world's top 5 tennis tournaments
and one of Asia's premier sport events, while contributing to Beijing's
readiness for hosting large sports events ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.
“As the host city for 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing welcomes more
and more international sports events. China Open really represents the
City as its “Name Card” and brings more benefits to the city.”
Said Sun Kanglin, Director of the Sports and Physical Culture Bureau of
Beijing Municipality, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Open
Organizing Committee
“We believe the partnership between SOHU and China Open will be
effective in bringing the world's top players participating in China Open
closer to their millions of fans around China and further raising the
profile of tennis ahead of the landmark 2008 Olympic Games,” commented
Victor Koo, President and COO of SOHU.COM.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. We may also make
written or oral forward-looking statements in our periodic reports to
the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, etc.,
in our annual report to shareholders, in our proxy statements, in press
releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our
officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are
not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations,
are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current
plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue
reliance on them.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
We caution you that the events described in this press release should
not be interpreted as having any material effect on SOHU's revenues or
profitability.
We further caution you that a number of important factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, SOHU's historical and possible future losses, limited operating history,
uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China, fluctuations
in quarterly operating results, and the company's reliance on online advertising
sales, e-subscriptions (most of which are collected from a few telecom
operators) and e-commerce for its revenues. Further information regarding
these and other risks is included in SOHU's Annual Report on Form 10K
for the year ended December 31, 2003, Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for
the quarter ended March 31, 2004 and other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
About SOHU.com
SOHU.com is the leading Internet portal in Mainland China with current
daily page views exceeding 12 million. It provides navigation/search,
news, sports, business and finance, real estate channel, entertainment,
chat, email and e-commerce activities for a solid and wide base of visitors.
Dr. Charles Zhang founded SOHU.com in 1997. Its investors include Intel,
Dow Jones, IDG, the Morningside China Group, PCCW, Legend and Hikari.
Its content partners include CNET, DOW Jones and dozens of local media
organizations in China.
For further information:
Dahlia Wei
SOHU Investor Relations and Communications
Tel: +86 10 6272 6598
E-mail: ir@sohu-inc.com
http://www.sohu.com/about/English/ |