Japan's major telecommunication and media group Softbank Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed in principle to form a comprehensive business alliance with Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group, China's second-largest media company, to cooperate in video distribution and entertainment businesses.

Softbank is considering distributing SMEG's television programs through its Internet and mobile phone networks both in Japan and abroad, Kyodo News reported.

It also aims to air Japanese cartoons and other television programs on SMEG's satellite digital broadcasts, the company said.

Softbank, which operates broadband, fixed-line, broadmedia and many other businesses in Japan, is also considering a capital tie-up with SMEG, Kyodo quoted an unnamed Softbank official as saying.

SMEG is a media group whose business ranges from television and radio broadcasting to newspaper and magazine publishing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)