CBS News has partnered with BBC News for a relationship aimed to “enhance the global reporting capabilities of both organizations,” CBS News President David Rhodes and BBC Director of News and Current Affairs James Harding announced on Thursday.
The partnership will allow both organizations to share video, editorial content and additional news-gathering resources in New York, London, Washington and around the world.
“CBS News is completely committed to original reporting around the world–a commitment clearly shared by the BBC,” Rhodes said. “There’s no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News. I look forward to working with James Harding as we increase the capabilities of both organizations.”
“There’s never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what’s happening in the world,” Harding said. “This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences–wherever you live, whatever your point of view–news that is reliable, original and illuminating. Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television. We’re really looking forward to working together.”
Rhodes sent a memo to his staff shortly after the deal was announced, which was obtained by TheWrap.
“Beginning immediately we will coordinate resources and coverage strategy with BBC News. This takes the place of our longtime arrangement with Sky News who have been strong allies for many years, but the opportunity to partner with one of the world’s largest news organizations was too compelling not to make this change,” Rhodes wrote.
He continued: “None of this would be possible if we were not proving ourselves each day in our news coverage — which was recently recognized with the announcement that CBS News won the Edward R Murrow award for Overall Excellence. Thank you for your part in this — and in the days ahead as we work together to make this new collaboration a success.”
