The ABC and China’s Shanghai Media Group (SMG) signed an extensive media agreement in Sydney on June 4, expanding co-operation into drama and children’s programming, increasing co-operation in the sharing of news and paving the way for the ABC to establish a commercial base in Shanghai and open an online portal in China.
The agreement was signed by the Chairman of the ABC, James Spigelman and the 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 programme sharing between the two organisations,” Spigelman said.
“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.”
Spigelman said the agreement was made possible as a result of years of co-operation, including co-productions, content sharing, news exchange and personnel exchange between the ABC and SMG and was a reflection of the depth and quality the partnership had reached since it was established in 2010.
Wang said: “The Shanghai Media Group and the ABC have had a long term 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 at the ABC Studios in Ultimo also marked 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. This follows the successful broadcast in China of Window on Australia providing an insight into Australian life and broadcast in primetime for a week on SMG’s international channel, ICS.
Other guests at the event included the ABC Managing Director, Mark Scott; the Executive Director of the International Channel Shanghai, Sun Wei; and the CEO of ABC International, Lynley Marshall.
Marshall said: “We have always considered our international media partnerships to be jewels in our crown and one of the brightest jewels has been the relationship we have enjoyed with the Shanghai Media Group.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a close partnership with SMG who have always been so supportive of us in the past and who will now move forward with us in the future with this new expanded agreement.”
