Australia’s national broadcaster has struck a deal to make its news video available on a new video streaming platform, but the content will not appear on Foxtel-owned Flash despite previous talks of a tie-up.
The ABC will give access to video content to LeadStory, an on-demand news platform launched last year by former Sky News and Seven journalist, Cameron Price, for the next three years. It is the latest commercial deal for the ABC, which was holding talks with Foxtel about a licensing deal for its content late last year.
The ABC has signed a commercial deal with new video aggregator, LeadStoryCredit:Screenshot
“We’re delighted to welcome ABC News to LeadStory,” Mr Price, LeadStory’s co-founder and chief executive, said. “Our users demand compelling storytelling on the issues they care about, alongside instant access to breaking news and ABC is a natural choice to provide that”.
LeadStory is a free online platform that allows users to follow local and international stories. It aggregates content from CNBC, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Bloomberg, Reuters, France24, CBC Canada,
Ticker News and Fox News.
The platform accessed some ABC content through a deal with Reuters, but the new arrangement gives it access to all news content from the ABC Now platform. The online service launched around the same time as Foxtel’s third streaming service, Flash, which is being run by former news.com.au editor-in-chief, Kate de Brito.
Foxtel’s 24-hour news platform, launched last October, features coverage from global outlets such as CNN, CNBC and Fox News and local entities such as Sky News and costs $8 per month. When it launched, Flash chief executive Julian Ogrin said he expected it to attract corporate customers as well as regular viewers by attracting a number of local news outlets as well as Sky News.
The ABC was one of these key local players that Flash was trying to secure for the platform. Mr Ogrin said Flash needed to become unexclusive and impartial to find subscribers.
Industry sources familiar with the talks, who spoke anonymously because they were confidential, said the two companies have ended discussions without a deal.
The ABC’s deal with LeadStory is similar to other commercial deals it has in place with media companies such as billboard company oOh!Media and Spotify.
The ABC terminated several commercial deals, including with industry superannuation fund-backed website, The New Daily, last year, in what it said was strategic shift to focus on agreements with aggregation platforms like Facebook and Google
