A consortium from the United States led by Disney is planning to invest in Bus-Online Co., Ltd., hoping to build a new platform for Disney's publicity in China. In addition to Disney, Google is also an investor in the consortium, Oriental Morning Post reported February 9, 2010.
It is understood that the consortium plans to pay more than 100 million U.S. dollars to purchase a 30-40 percent stake of Bus-Online. With this acquisition, Disney will gain a new marketing platform. According to sources, Google is also participating in the consortium as small investor. The consortium will purchase existing shares and new shares issued by Bus-Online to complete the investment.
Bus-Online was established in March 2003, and is currently China's largest bus digital media and advertising company. It owns China's largest mobile television network, covering 32 major cities with more than 60,000 bus mobile TV terminals.
Sources stressed that the consortium has not yet reached any agreement with Bus-Online, while Disney executives will go to Beijing to communicate with Chinese regulators on the relevant plan.
By People's Daily Online
据消息人士透露，以美国迪士尼为首的一家财团正计划投资巴士在线传媒有限公司（简称巴士在线），期望借“巴士顺风车”打造迪士尼在华宣传新平台，除迪士尼外，谷歌也是该财团的投资者之一。
据有关媒体报道，该财团打算斥资1亿美元通过私人配售、购入新股和旧股购入巴士在线30%-40%的股份。消息人士表示，迪士尼期望成为巴士在线的战略伙伴，而非仅是投资商。“对迪士尼来说，这笔投资不仅仅是看好中国广告市场的增长，更是对迪士尼自身的促销。”该人士说道。
巴士在线成立于2003年3月，总部设在上海，员工总数1300余人，是新华社、中央电视台（央视国际）在移动媒体（电视）领域长期战略合作伙伴，是目前中国最大的巴士数码媒体和广告公司，2004年以来获得了包括IDG在内的数家国际投资基金约8000万美元的风险投资，去年营业收入达到3.145亿元，旗下拥有目前中国最大的移动电视网络，覆盖32个主要城市，超过6万部终端的巴士移动电视。
另一消息人士指出，预计迪士尼高层将前往北京与中国媒体监管层就迪士尼在华的长期发展策略，包括投资巴士在线，进行协商。
据消息人士透露，相比迪士尼，谷歌只占该投资很小一部分。同时，该人士补充道，目前并没有任何协议达成，且谈判进程保密，不能透露更多。巴士在线和谷歌对此不愿置评。
消息人士还称，肯德基将与巴士在线签订合约，同意巴士在线在肯德基2000多家门店内设立广告屏。
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