BBC
signs news exchange agreement with al-Jazeera
BBC
News has signed a newsgathering exchange agreement with Qatar-based
TV news channel al-Jazeera, granting reciprocal access to material.
Adrian
Van-Klaveren, Head of Newsgathering at BBC News said:
"Al-Jazeera
has established itself as a major international broadcaster. By
working alongside them in our Newsgathering activities, we will
be able to provide an even more comprehensive service to the BBC's
audiences both in the UK and around the world."
The
agreement includes co-operation on the ground in terms of sharing
facilities. One example of this could include the BBC using al-Jazeera's
uplink in Kabul.
Madhav
Chinnappa, Deputy Head of Rights at BBC News, said:
"This
is a bilateral deal which has formalised arrangements between the
BBC and al-Jazeera. We have a number of similar agreements around
the world including ABC in the US and NHK in Japan."
He
added that discussions were under way about possible provision of
documentaries via BBC Worldwide, online advice for al-Jazeera's
English language website, which is due to launch in February, and
advice on training and safety.
Notes
to Editors
Al-Jazeera,
which means The Peninsula, was launched in 1996 and is the most
popular news station in the Middle East.
It
is based in Qatar and has built its reputation on its independence
which has led to a number of exclusives, including broadcast footage
of, and filmed statements by, Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.
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