Linktone Announces Co-Production of New Reality TV Show 'China Union' With Shandong TV Station (SDTV) Subsidiary

Linktone Announces Co-Production of New Reality TV Show 'China Union' With Shandong TV Station (SDTV) Subsidiary

SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Linktone Ltd. (NASDAQ:LTON), a leading provider of wireless interactive entertainment products and services to consumers in China, announced today that the Company, along with Zhongbang Culture Media, a subsidiary of Shandong TV Station (SDTV), will enter into the co-production of "China Union" television show, a city-to-city, provincial-to-provincial singing competition.

Similar to the popular reality television series American Idol and EuroVision, ''China Union'' will feature a competition among the best singers from China's twelve provinces and will highlight Chinese culture. Forty-five show episodes will broadcast throughout mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau through Shandong Television Satellite and other major provincial satellite stations with a combined audience of more than 700 million. In addition to providing exclusive wireless services for the show, Linktone also holds the rights to the ''China Union'' brand name, advertising, and copyrights.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Li stated, ''We are excited to be able to build on our interactive media leadership position with this co-production which combines the strengths of traditional media, the ever growing global popularity of reality competition television shows and the power of Linktone's new media wireless services to reach an even wider audience base. Our partnership with Zhongbang Culture Media in co-producing China Union is yet another example of Linktone's further progress in developing our interactive television initiatives.''

General Manager at Zhongbang Culture Media Mr. Yu commented, ''We are looking forward to our joint television production and distribution. We will have many more opportunities to work together on future projects, and we very excited about the creation of this joint venture, the growth potential, and synergies between our two companies.''

Founded in 1960, SDTV currently owns seven TV channels -- Satellite Channel, Qilu Channel, Sports Channel, Agricultural Science Channel, Public News Channel, Children's Channel and Pay Channel. According to recent data provided by a leading media research firm, SDTV's Satellite Channel ranks first in coverage among those of the provinces.

Zhongbang Media's predecessor was the International Department of SDTV which was responsible for the planning, development and implementation of SDTV's large scale television shows, big cultural events, and performances along with post-production work and the operation of TV channels. Zhongbang Media is led by a seasoned team with many years of experience in all aspects of TV operations, management and production.

About Linktone Ltd.

Linktone Ltd. is a leading provider of wireless interactive entertainment products and services in China. Linktone provides a diverse portfolio of services to wireless consumers, with a particular focus on media, entertainment and communications. These services are promoted through the Company's own marketing channels and through the networks of the mobile operators in China. Through in-house development and alliances with international and local branded content partners, the Company develops, aggregates, and distributes innovative and engaging products to maximize the breadth, quality and diversity of its offerings. Linktone categorizes China's wireless services landscape as ''MAGIC'' -- Music, Advanced Gaming, Graphics, Instant Messaging and Community.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: current or future changes in the policies of the PRC Ministry of Information Industry and the mobile operators in China or in the manner in which the operators enforce such policies; the risk that other changes in Chinese laws and regulations, or in application thereof by other relevant PRC governmental authorities, could adversely affect Linktone's financial condition and results of operations; the risk that Linktone will not be able to compete effectively in the wireless value-added services market in China for whatever reason, including competition from other service providers or penalties or suspensions for violations of the policies of the mobile operators in China; the risk that Linktone will not be able to develop and effectively market innovative services; the risk that Linktone will not be able to effectively control its operating expenses in future periods or make expenditures that effectively differentiate Linktone's services and brand; and the risks outlined in Linktone's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statement on Form F-1 and annual report on Form 20-F. Linktone does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

Edward Liu
Linktone Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-6361-1583
Email: edward.liu@linktone.com

Brandi Piacente
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: brandi@thepiacentegroup.com

Source: Linktone Ltd.

CONTACT: Edward Liu of Linktone Ltd., +86-21-6361-1583, or
edward.liu@linktone.com; or Brandi Piacente of The Piacente Group, Inc.,
+1-212-481-2050, or brandi@thepiacentegroup.com

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