Zug, Switzerland, 26 January 2006 – Infront Sports & Media has signed an exclusive New Media broadcast agreement with SMG Broadband Ltd. (SMG BB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group (SMG). The rights granted are in the category of Mobile Telephony and World Wide Web and include up to four minutes of video material per match for "near-live" and/or delayed highlight coverage via mobile networks as well via the Internet.
 
SMG BB will exploit these rights on its own Internet platform and intends to collaborate with third parties in the territory for the distribution of mobile video content.
 
The agreement covers all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. It is exclusive for the territory of China, the world's largest Mobile Telephony market, with more than 350 million subscribers, and the second largest World Wide Web market, with 111 million users. Additionally SMG has acquired full access to the archive material from the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, which took place in Korea and Japan.
 
Oscar Frei, CEO of Infront, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Shanghai Media Group in this exciting breakthrough. We already have an established relationship through Infront's joint venture with the Chinese Basketball Association and Shanghai Media Group is also the official broadcaster of the Chinese Super League in football. They are as dedicated to sport as we are and our partnership will mean that – together – we can conquer another new frontier in coverage of the FIFA World Cup™, the world's most popular event."
 
The Shanghai Media Group (SMG), a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group (SMEG), is a multimedia television and radio broadcasting, news and Internet company. Formed in 2001, SMG is the result of a merger between the People's Radio Station of Shanghai, East Radio Shanghai, Shanghai Television Station, and Oriental Television Station. SMG's core business is television broadcasting and related media entertainment services including sports, showbiz, performance arts, science and technology, and finance.
 
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
info@infrontsports.com