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 Group Inc., China's second-largest media company, to cooperate in video distribution and entertainment businesses.

Softbank is considering distributing SMG'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 SMG'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 SMG, Kyodo quoted an unnamed Softbank official as saying.

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

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)