SearchMedia Announces
Partial Settlement on Arbitration

Shanghai, China, January 26, 2012 — SearchMedia Holdings Limited (“SearchMedia”
or the “Company”) (NYSE Amex: IDI, IDI.WS), one of China's leading nationwide
multi-platform media companies, today announced that it reached settlement
agreements for the arbitration between the Company and certain of its
predecessor shareholders.

The arbitration was filed between SearchMedia Holdings Limited vs. China Seed
Ventures, LP (“CSV”), Qinying Liu, Deutsche Bank AG Hong Kong Branch, Le Yang
(collectively, the “Settling Defendants”), and Sun Hing Associates Ltd. and
Vervain Equity Investments Limited (“Nan Fung Entities”) related to matters from
the Share Exchange Agreement which closed on October 30, 2009.  The Settlement
Agreements with CSV, Ms. Liu and Ms. Yang are effective immediately while the
settlement agreement with Deutsche Bank is conditional upon certain
determinations by the arbitration panel. In addition, SearchMedia has reached an
agreement with Linden Ventures II BVI Ltd. ("Linden"), a pre-merger investor, in
which SearchMedia will repurchase all of their shares outstanding.

Subject to the conditions referred to in the previous paragraph being satisfied,
as part of the settlement with the Settling Defendants and Linden, (i) 2.5
million shares will be repurchased by the Company at an average price per share
of $0.25 and such shares will be retired, (ii) 2.0 million shares will be
surrendered and cancelled without consideration, and (iii) 1.6 million warrants
will be surrendered and cancelled without consideration.  The cancelled warrants
have strike prices ranging from $0.0001 to $7.88 per share. Upon completion of
the transactions contemplated by the settlement agreements, the Company will
have 17.4 million shares outstanding, including 0.8 million shares recently
issued to subsidiaries of the Company in settlement of certain earnout
obligations.  In addition, as part of the settlement, the Settling Defendants
have agreed to forego their right, under a voting agreement, to nominate four
members to the SearchMedia board of directors, and Ms. Liu resigned her position
as a member of the SearchMedia Board of Directors effective January 23, 2012.

The Company intends to vigorously continue its claims against the Nan Fung
Entities, the remaining party in the arbitration.

Mr. Paul Conway, Chief Executive Officer of SearchMedia, commented, “We are
happy to reach these settlement agreements to resolve a long standing issue. As
part of the settlement we will eliminate 4.5 million outstanding shares,
significantly reduce our overhang of warrants, and facilitate the appointment of
additional directors. As we continue to move beyond the complications that we
inherited, our current management team will be able to better focus on execution
of our business strategy to capture the exciting opportunities in China’s
advertising market.”

About SearchMedia
SearchMedia is a leading nationwide multi-platform media company and one of the
largest operators of integrated outdoor billboard and in-elevator advertising
networks in China. SearchMedia operates a network of high-impact billboards and
one of China’s largest networks of in-elevator advertisement panels in 50 cities
throughout China. SearchMedia’s core outdoor billboard and in-elevator platforms
are complemented by its transit advertising platform, which together enable it
to provide multi-platform, “one-stop shop” services for its local, national and
international advertising clients. Learn more at www.searchmediaholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical
facts, including statements about SearchMedia’s beliefs and expectations, may
constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined by the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “confident” and
similar statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on
current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. 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, whether the partial settlement with Deutsche
Bank will be approved by the arbitration panel, whether the Company will be
successful in, or determine to pursue,  its claim against the Nan Fung Entities,
whether the Company can execute its business strategy in capturing opportunities
within the Chinese advertising market, the risks that there are uncertainties
and matters beyond the control of management, and other risks outlined in the
Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SearchMedia
cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made. SearchMedia does not undertake
or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the
Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Conway, 0118613918844646

ir@searchmediaholdings.com

This Form 6-K is being incorporated by reference into the Registrant's Form F-3
Registration Statement File No. 333-176634.