The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and its Canadian counterpart, the CBC, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on expanding the reach and impact of their content across both countries.
In a statement, the two national broadcasters said they would co-develop English-language drama, comedy, factual, children’s and podcast content to maximise the value of their public funding for audiences.
The three-year MoU would also provide further opportunities for co-financing and format sales of drama and children’s content.
Managing Director at the ABC, David Anderson (pictured) said that in a world of global media giants, the outstanding and accessible content produced by like-minded public broadcasters was more important than ever.
“This collaboration will drive our limited resources further, leveraging our strengths to create and share distinctive content that connects with audiences at home and overseas,” Mr Anderson said.
President and Chief Executive of CBC/Radio-Canada, Catherine Tait said the agreement would offer new opportunities for producers in Canada and Australia, and bring the two organisations’ top creators, talent and stories to broader audiences at home and around the world.
The MoU builds on an existing relationship that includes CBC’s acquisition of the broadcast rights to ABC programs 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.
It also covers the possibility of exchanging employees where such exchanges were appropriate and feasible.
