Fairfax launches content syndication arm, strikes deal with Getty Images
Fairfax Media has launched a standalone unit to manage the licensing of its content. The company has also struck a deal with Getty Images that will see Getty represent Fairfax’s photographic collection.
The announcement:
July 1, 2011: Fairfax Media today launched Fairfax Syndication, a new stand-alone business unit which will manage the licensing of current and archival content to companies, organisations and individuals in Australia and throughout the world.
A new Fairfax Syndication website (www.fairfaxsyndication.com), was also unveiled today, a valuable resource for commercial entities including corporations, not-for-profits associations and international publications to licence the vast array of photographic, text and video content available from Fairfax Media’s award-winning publications.
Fairfax Media also announced today the signing of a landmark international partnership with Getty Images, the world’s leading creator and distributor of still imagery, footage and multimedia products.
Under the deal, Getty Images will exclusively represent Fairfax Media’s unique photographic collection worldwide.
Fairfax Media CEO, Greg Hywood, said: “The launch of Fairfax Syndication is a major development for Fairfax Media and a natural progression of integrating our print and digital assets.”
General Manager, Fairfax Syndication, Wendell Williams, said: “While Fairfax has had syndication operations for some years, we see this as a tremendous new business opportunity to leverage our existing assets into new platforms worldwide, expand our reach and monetise our content more effectively.“We’re delighted to be partnering internationally with Getty Images – one of the most recognised and authoritative brands in the world for still photography.
=“Getty Images’ representation is a fantastic opportunity for Fairfax Media to extend overseas awareness, and of course sales of our unparalleled Australian photographic collection,” Williams said.
“Fairfax has worked with Getty Images for a number of years, and we are excited at this new distribution partnership, leveraging Getty Images’ extensive worldwide reach and loyal brand following,” he said, adding that today’s launch and partnership with Getty Images would ensure Fairfax Media’s rich collection of content would be made available to a larger, global audience.
“We are also employing a number of new technologies to enable the world to view, access and licence the most comprehensive and rich collection of media content in Australia,” Williams said.
Fairfax Media recently implemented the ‘RightsLink’ system across its key news, classified and lifestyle websites enabling instant online licensing and developed a new customised syndication application ‘API’ that will allow existing and future syndication clients access to real-time content from multiple websites for immediate use on other platforms.
“As the news cycle speeds up, we now have new ways to deliver news faster to syndication partners for publishing,” Williams said.
The new Fairfax Syndication website (www.fairfaxsyndication.com) has a huge representative photographic collection, and will grow to integrate key editorial content from Fairfax’s print and digital mastheads.
“Over the next six months, you will see some exciting developments and partnerships that will expand our content reach with key media partners worldwide and open up new opportunities here in Australia,” Williams said.Fairfax Syndication will also continue to provide consumers with the service they have enjoyed for many years; the ability to purchase images online from the Fairfax Media photo library, including popular reprints of front pages from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Hywood added: “Quality journalism is our core business. Now we can extend the reach of that quality journalism as new technology allows us to monetise Fairfax Media’s print and digital content throughout the world, which in turn provides us with a significant revenue stream.”
