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ABC dismisses claims China content deal is just ‘standard content agreement’

Lynley Marshall

Lynley Marshall

The ABC has dismissed criticism of its deal with China’s Shanghai Media Group (SMG) after the two organisations signed an agreement to establish an online portal for its content in China that will allow a range of Australian content and services to be offered and presented to partner Chinese media organisations.

The agreement was signed yesterday in Sydney by chairman of the ABC James Spigelman and executive vice president of SMG, Wang Jianjun in front of a high-level Chinese delegation headed by the Party Secretary for the City of Shanghai, Han Zheng, a member of China’s national Politburo.

“This agreement with the Shanghai Media Group marks the moment when ABC and SMG can move forward with our joint plans to expand content and program sharing between the two organisations,” said Spigelman, in a statement.

“It will also see the establishment of a base in Shanghai to further both parties’ aspirations to deliver a friendly and constructive international media partnership between the two countries, one that will actively promote Australia-China understanding and relationships.”

SMG’s Wang said: “The Shanghai Media Group and the ABC have had a longterm international partnership and both sides have a high regard and considerable respect for each other as television broadcasters and as innovators in new media.

“We now move into a new phase of co-operation and we are very pleased to be here in Australia to sign and significantly expand our international media activities.”

The signing ceremony, which had been delayed, at the ABC Studios in Ultimo was timed to coincide with the launch of a week of special programming on the Australia Network and ABC3 presenting insights into life in China. ‘Window on Shanghai China’, which will be broadcast in primetime on Australia Network from June 4 to June 10 and on ABC3 on June 2, 3 and 4.

ABC international boss Lynley Marshall this morning dismissed criticisms of the deal following suggestions in The Australian that the agreement was “a standard program co-operation and exchange deal”.

“This is so far and away from a standard program cooperation deal. I mean SMG must have hundreds of those as we do but it is not everyday that we get the full police security motorcade pulling up outside the ABC”, said Marshall.

“We had that yesterday, when Han Zheng arrived to witness the signing of this new agreement. It was pretty special and the most significant thing here is that we are establishing a .cn portal that will present a full range of programs and content directly into China,” she said referring to how the deal allowed the ABC to go behind the Chinese internet firewall.

“We are right now in development of that portal. I am not sure yet when that will be but we will certainly let you know, but the other key thing is that we are establishing a business base in the Shanghai Free Trade zone.

“We have the full support of the Chinese establishment in doing so.”

Nic Christensen 

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