China Central Television and Sky News Australia Expand Co-operation Agreement

The national television network of the People’s Republic of China (CCTV) and Australia’s news channel, SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA, today significantly strengthened their relationship by signing an expanded co-operation agreement for news programming exchange and co-production.

The new agreement, signed today at CCTV headquarters in Beijing, will see the launch of major live breaking news exchanges between the two broadcasters covering general news as well as business and trade news.

For the first time, Australian major news events will be seen live in China and major Chinese news events seen live on Australia’s news channel.

The agreement expands the scope of a breakthrough reciprocal programming relationship commenced between CCTV and Sky News Australia in April 2010 which saw the launch of the Dialogue program on A-PAC, Australia’s Public Affairs Channel.

The agreement enables greater program exchange between CCTV-4 (CCTV’s international channel in Chinese), CCTV News Channel (CCTV’s news channel in English) and SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA’S SKY NEWS National and SKY NEWS Business.

CCTV and SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA will also provide each other with dedicated reporters and news gathering support in their respective regions.