BEIJING, CHINA, September 23rd, 2004 - SOHU.com Inc.
(Nasdaq: SOHU), China's leading online media, communications, commerce and
mobile value-added services company, and Formula One Administration, have signed
a long-term agreement under which SOHU will exclusively host and manage the
Official Formula 1 website in Chinese, introducing Chinese motor racing fans to
the world of Formula One in their own language and offering new business
opportunities to Formula One associated companies in this promising market. The
official website signing ceremony precedes the inaugural 2004 Formula 1 Sinopec
Chinese Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place in Shanghai from September
24-26.
The new website (china.formula1.com) will include daily news,
official live timing with race commentary, extensive photographic galleries
featuring exclusive still TV images, specially-commissioned interviews and
features, an interactive results archive, in-depth technical analysis, general
information on the rules and history of Formula One and full profiles on all the
competing teams and drivers including all previous world champions. The
presentation of the new website will follow the creative style of the flagship
English language site, formula1.com.
Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of SOHU said: “We are honoured Formula One
Management has chosen SOHU as its official online partner in China, as SOHU aims
to become the country’s preferred online platform for all fans, organisers and
corporate advertisers involved in sport. At the same time, as the portal with
the widest reach among China’s 80 million online users according to
iResearch/Alexa for the past eight months, we offer the Formula One community
prime internet access to the affluent urban internet users who are the most
likely people in China to embrace the world of motor racing.”
Bernie Ecclestone, CEO, Formula One Management Limited said: “The first
Formula One Chinese race is a very significant addition to the global Formula
One calendar and we are pleased to announce this cooperation at such an
appropriate time. For many years tens of millions of Chinese fans have been
enjoying Formula One through television, and now millions more will be able to
follow Formula One in their own language through the Internet. We are confident
that in SOHU we have found a committed partner to help build Formula One’s
interactive gateway for Chinese fans and to offer a new platform for our teams
and sponsors. Additionally, the flagship English language site at formula1.com
offers similar opportunities for Chinese companies wishing to enter Formula
One.”
Victor Koo, President & COO of SOHU said: “The growth in car
ownership reflects the rising prosperity in China and fuels the interest in all
automotive related entertainment and sports as higher incomes make people keen
to explore new leisure experiences. The inaugural 2004 Formula 1Sinopec Chinese
Grand Prix is already proving to be very popular and is expected to further
enhance interest in the sport, as its glamour and excitement fits well into the
new lifestyle of Chinese consumers.”
Notes to editors: About Sohu SOHU.COM (NASDAQ: SOHU)
is China's premier online brand and indispensable to the daily life of millions
of Chinese who use the portal network for their news, search, e-mail, wireless
messaging, instant messaging, browsing, games and shopping. SOHU has built one
of the most comprehensive matrix of web properties in China, consisting of the
mass portal and leading online media destination www.sohu.com; the #1 online
alumni club www.chinaren.com; #1 games portal www.17173.com; top real estate
website www.focus.cn and wireless value-added services provider
www.goodfeel.com.cn. This network of web properties offers the vast SOHU user
community the broadest possible choices regarding information, entertainment,
communication and commerce. SOHU.COM, established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of
China's Internet pioneers, is in its eighth year of operation.
About Formula One, Formula One Management and formula1.com
Representing more than half a century as the supreme form of international
motorsport, The FIA Formula One World Championship is the world’s most popular
annual sporting series, with a global audience measured in billions.
In 2004, ten teams will travel around the globe, visiting the world’s most
exciting race tracks, taking in Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South
America, in their pursuit of championship glory.
The Formula One car represents the ultimate in automotive technology, capable
of top speeds approaching 370kph. Featuring V10 engines capable of 19,000 rpm
and producing anything up to 900 horsepower, the cars offer all-round
performance levels unmatched in any other race series.
To harness that performance requires the best in driving talent and among
those who have achieved the coveted status of Formula One World Champion are
all-time greats such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and of
course the current seven-times World Champion, Michael Schumacher.
A host of up-and-coming superstars are fighting to take his crown, Kimi
Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso being among
them.
Formula One Management Formula One Administration Limited
(FOA), founded by Bernie Ecclestone, holds the exclusive commercial rights to
the FIA Formula One World Championship. Formula One Management Limited (FOM)
acts on behalf of FOA in all matters relating to the management, protection and
exploitation of FOA's intellectual property rights.
Formula1.com Formula1.com is the official Formula 1?
website, and since launch in March 2003 enjoyed 5 million unique users that
year. In 2004, at the end of Quarter 3 this figure had risen by 50% to 7.5
million. Formula1.com aims to provide an unparalleled online Formula One
experience by hosting unique and exclusive content and by embracing the
technological and interactive opportunities presented by the internet.
Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains
forward-looking statements. 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 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, wireless services (most of which
are collected from a few mobile 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, and other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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/ |