Sohu.com (SOHU) 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.

Sohu.com will work closely with SMGBB.cn to deliver World Cup broadband Internet video and photos to Chinese Internet users and football fans.

During the World Cup, Sohu.com and SMGBB.cn will jointly establish a World Cup channel, http://2006.sohu.com/smgbb, 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.