Audit Committee of Focus Media Reports Results of First Display Count Survey

SHANGHAI, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Focus Media Holding Limited ("Focus Media") (Nasdaq: FMCN) today announced that its audit committee received the results of the first of two third-party, independent surveys on the number of displays in Focus Media's LCD display network and its poster frame network. The survey was independently conducted by Ipsos Marketing Consulting Company ("Ipsos") in December 2011. Ipsos is the world's fifth largest market research company(1). To conduct the survey, Ipsos used a Stratified Random Sampling methodology. According to Ipsos, based on the Sampling Distribution Theory, the actual audited display counts can be projected to reflect the total number of Focus Media's displays with a +/- 1% sampling error at a 99% confidence level.

The survey results from Ipsos show that the number of displays in Focus Media's LCD display network and poster frame network were 185,249 and 436,444 respectively (see Appendix I). The table below sets forth a summary of the survey results.

A second random sampling survey of Focus Media's LCD display and poster frame networks commissioned by the Audit Committee is currently being conducted by another reputable third-party survey firm. The results of that study will be disclosed in a subsequent press release after the results become available.

In addition, the Audit Committee also reported that it has engaged Ipsos to conduct an additional study that will take a full-count census of the number of displays in Focus Media's LCD display network in order to further verify the numbers of displays disclosed by Focus Media. The results of the census will be released as soon as the study is completed.

Appendix I

Ipsos Survey Results Summary

Focus Media's Display Count for its LCD Display Network & Poster Frame Network Certified with over 99.97% Accuracy

In December 2011, the Audit Committee of Focus Media Holding Limited commissioned Ipsos, an independent third-party research company, to conduct a survey of the number of displays in Focus Media's LCD display network and poster frame network in order to check the accuracy of Focus Media's display count data and the authenticity of Focus Media's displays.

In this survey, Ipsos adopted the Stratified Random Sampling statistical technique in order to measure the actual number of displays in Focus Media's LCD display network and poster frame network. Based on the Sampling Distribution Theory, the actual audited display counts can be projected to reflect the total number of Focus Media's displays with a +/- 1% sampling error at a 99% confidence level.

In order to ensure the representativeness of the sample, various tiers of cities were selected from Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern and Central China. A proportional number of site locations and displays in these cities were selected for the survey based on the distribution of Focus Media's displays nationwide. Random sampling was then used to select commercial and residential buildings in each city. A thorough count of all of Focus Media's displays was undertaken in the sampled buildings.

The results of Ipsos' survey of Focus Media's displays are as follows：

Ipsos was founded in Paris in 1975, and became listed in Paris (currently as the European Stock Exchange) in 1999. As of 2010, Ipsos has offices in 67 countries worldwide and has business conducted in more than 100 countries. It is the second-largest research firm in the customized market research sector globally. In the U.S., Ipsos is ranked fifth in the market research sector and third in the media research category.  Ipsos entered China in 2000 and has been the industry leader in China since 2008.  

Appendix I (continued)

The result of this survey is the work product of Marketing Unit under the service brand "Ipsos". This survey was conducted solely by the Marketing Unit under the service brand "Ipsos" and is independent from and not influenced by any other survey, research outcome or study on the same subject matter, whether it is conducted by other research teams within Ipsos group or by other market research institutes.

SAFE HARBOR: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Focus Media may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 20-F and 6-K., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Focus Media's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks outlined in Focus Media's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statements on Form F-1, F-3 and 20-F, in each case as amended. Focus Media does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

This release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States.  Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.  Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer or selling security holder and that will contain detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

ABOUT FOCUS MEDIA HOLDING LIMITED

Focus Media Holding Limited (Nasdaq: FMCN) operates China's largest lifestyle targeted interactive digital media network. The Company offers one of the most comprehensive targeted interactive digital media platforms aimed at Chinese consumers at various urban locations. The increasingly fragmented and mobile lifestyle of Chinese urban consumers has created the need for more efficient media means to capture consumer attention. Focus Media's mission is to build an increasingly comprehensive and measurable interactive urban media network that reaches consumers at various out-of-home locations.

SOURCE Focus Media Holding Limited