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ABC enters creative and commercial partnership with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

ABC has announced a creative and commercial collaboration with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) which will enable both broadcasters to further the reach of their resources.

The pair have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to co-develop English-language drama, comedy, factual, children’s and podcast content for three years.

The MOU will also allow further co-financing and format sales opportunities for both broadcasters.

ABC managing director David Anderson said the current unstable climate for public broadcasters made deals like this one even more important.

“In a world of global media giants, the outstanding and accessible content produced by like-minded public broadcasters is more important than ever,” said Anderson.

“This collaboration between the ABC and CBC will drive our limited resources further, leveraging our strengths to create and share distinctive content that connects with audiences at home and overseas.”

The agreement comes as the ABC prepares for the $84m indexation pause imposed by the government, which is due to come into effect on July 1.

Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC and Radio Canada, said the agreement would allow for more ambitious projects.

“At a time when public broadcasters are competing with the best content in the world, partnerships like this will ensure we can nurture and develop more distinct storytelling and co-finance ambitious projects with greater global reach,” said Tait.

“This agreement will offer new opportunities for producers in Canada and Australia, and bring our top creators, talent and stories to broader audiences at home and around the world.”

The MOU is focused on initiatives around children’s content, including the co-development of children’s programs, such as two proposed TV projects for two to six-year-olds and eight to 14 year-olds, and ABC’s acquisition of CBC Kids’ original commission Big Blue and co-productions Kiri and Lou and Sinking Ship.

The deal will also see the co-development of a media literacy initiative to equip schools and educators across both countries with tools to combat misinformation. The broadcasters will also share tools to improve the tracking and verification of the accuracy of news content.

Where appropriate, there will also be the opportunity for employee exchanges and both broadcasters will look at radio program exchanges and the sharing of ideas for new podcasts.

CBC has already received the broadcast rights to ABC programs including Ronny Chieng: International Student, Mustangs FC, Hannah Gadsby’s Nakedy Nudes, Hannah Gadsby’s Oz and the format rights to the ABC’s original series You Can’t Ask That.

CBC’s Canadian version of the award-winning series will launch on the CBC Gem streaming service in June.

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