The ABC has signed letters of intent with both Google and Facebook for payments under the news media bargaining code, the broadcaster’s managing director, David Anderson, has revealed. “When these commercial deals are concluded, they will enable the ABC to make new and significant investments in regional services,” Anderson told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday. The ABC has indicated it will use any potential revenue to boost coverage of regional and rural Australia, telling local stories and celebrating unique Australian stories. Wednesday’s announcement comes months after talks started between the ABC and Google. “We don’t want to switch out public funding for commercial funding.”The ABC’s commercial arrangement with Google involves displaying its content in the Google Showcase product.

Source: The Guardian May 26, 2021 08:40 UTC