China grants Australian broadcaster ABC landmark media access

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has forged a deal with Shanghai Media Group (SMG) to make its content available online.

The tie-up shows Shanghai’s determination to overhaul its media sector by pushing for greater digital orientation and attracting overseas television service providers.

The online portal would give ABC and other Australian media companies an advantage over foreign rivals in exploring the mainland market, where the Communist Party maintains a tight grip on media content.

The broadcasting stations in China are state-controlled and under the oversight of government media regulators and censors. Websites that provide news or video content are not allowed to operate unless they receive approval from the government.

Foreign broadcasters and TV content providers are mostly off limits to the mainland market with only a few services available in international hotels or on some local TV channels through exchange programmes.

“SMG is hoping to take the lead in tapping the cyberworld to distribute more quality content to cater to mainland audiences,” said an official with the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This will be a small but solid step forward in changing the city’s media landscape.”