Sohu cements Pixel partnership

Hong Kong - Sohu.com and Pixel Media will extend their partnership to further leverage China's emerging internet market, especially heading into the Olympic period.

Belinda Wang, co-president of Sohu.com, said Pixel Media and Sohu are seeking to dominate the online advertising market in China and the Asian region.

With China's online ad market now exceeding RMB$10 billion, an increase of 75% in 2007, Wang added that Sohu's online advertising in China is expected to grow at a rate of 58% in 2008.

"We believe that with the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games, the growth of our brand advertising business will strengthen and that advertisers will continue to see the benefits of using their advertising spending on Sohu.com."

Sohu is the Beijing Olympic's official internet sponsor.

Kevin Huang, CEO of Pixel Media, said while consumer electronics, food, financial services, medical and clothing sectors were heavy online spenders, the internet still only contributes less than 5% of total media spends in China, compared to TV's 72% and print with an 11% share.

"Our partnership provides our advertisers across Asia with the perfect online advertising solutions and helps them tap the fast-growing internet population in China."

Sohu.com and Pixel Media started their partnership in 2005. Pixel Media is the exclusive sales partner of Sohu.com in Southeastern Asia.