Sohu.com, the leading Internet portal in China, won approval on Tuesday to use CCTV.com's multimedia content during the Beijing Games.
CCTV.com holds the Internet and mobile platform exhibition rights within the mainland and Macao for the Beijing Olympics and is trying to bring content to as many people as possible by working with domestic counterparts, said Wang Wenbin, General Manager of CCTV.com.
"But we have to choose those who have a very strong sense of copyright as well as advanced technology to protect Olympic online content," Wang said. "Sohu.com has both of them and that's why we decided to form a strategic partnership with it."
During the Games, Chinese sports fans can visit Sohu.com to watch the opening and closing ceremonies as well as competitions online.
"We are trying to bring a multimedia Olympic feast to all the Chinese people with our advanced technologies," said Charles Zhang, president and CEO of Sohu.com.
"We are going to cover every aspect of the Games, not only the competitions but how Chinese celebrate and enjoy the world's largest sporting event."
As the Internet Content Services Sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Sohu will set up a 700-member editorial team to cover the action at all Olympic venues. It will also invite sports gurus into online chat rooms to comment on hot issues.
Besides real-time scoring, live text and photo coverage of the Olympics, it will have a database boasting detailed information on athletes.
Sohu will also feature an exclusive Olympic Champion Talk Show and Olympic Guessing Game during the Games, according to Chen Luming, director of Sohu Olympic Affairs.
