The BBC has announced a new deal to give away taxpayer funded news content to the US commercial station CBS in return for greater access to the American market (Abusing its position).
- Beeb bosses have pulled the plug on a 23-year partnership with US giants ABC
- They will now jump into bed with CBS who previously worked with Sky News
- UK broadcaster will share video, editorial content and newsgathering resources
- In return BBC will get content from New York and Washington for its US coverage
Bosses at the Corporation pulled the plug on a 23-year partnership with ABC to jump ship to CBS, who had previously worked with Sky News in the UK.
The broadcaster will share video, editorial content and newsgathering resources in London, New York, Washington and around the world to increase both organisations’ coverage of global events.
BBC director of news and current affairs James Harding said: ‘There’s never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what’s happening in the world.
‘This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences – wherever you live, whatever your point of view – news that is reliable, original and illuminating.
‘Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television.’
A BBC spokeswoman told one newspaper the deal was ‘cost neutral’, suggesting what it receives in return from CBS was the equivalent to what they would be paying for US coverage if no deal was in place.
The representative would not speculate on the cost of the deal, but when asked why the move came about now after the broadcaster had worked with ABC since 1994, she said: ‘Having worked on an ad-hoc basis with CBS over the past few years, we have found that this matches the BBC’s current needs well, and thus we have decided to strengthen our relationship.
‘We have had a long and fruitful partnership with ABC for many years and thank them for their years of hard work and expertise.’
CBS News president David Rhodes said: ‘CBS News is completely committed to original reporting around the world – a commitment clearly shared by the BBC.
‘There’s no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News.’
Harding thanked ABC News for their long-running collaboration with the BBC.
He said: ‘Our relationship with ABC has been long and fruitful.
‘We have worked side by side on some of the most significant stories of our time on both sides of the Atlantic, from the attack on the Twin Towers to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
‘We wish ABC well and would like to thank them for many years of hard work and expertise.’