China's Sohu sees ad revenue slowing in fiscal 2009

HONG KONG, June 20 (Reuters) - Chinese media firm Sohu.com (SOHU.O) expects core online advertising revenue to grow 40 to 45 percent this fiscal year as the country speeds towards the Beijing Olympics in August, but then slow to about 20 to 30 percent in 2009.

Co-President Belinda Wang told reporters on Friday she expected online ad revenue at Sohu, whose name means "search fox" in Chinese, to account for as much as half of the company's total turnover this fiscal year.

The firm, which vies with the likes of Baidu.com (BIDU.O), accounts for advertising revenue in two parts: so-called brand advertising, which is more than 90 percent of total online ad sales, and ad revenue from its search engine business. (Reporting by Vinicy Chan; editing by Anne Marie Roantree)