Madame Wang Jianjun, president of the Shanghai Media Group, welcomed Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s launching of AustraliaPlus.cn on April 8, Wednesday, in Shanghai.
According to an article on technologynewschina.com, the Chinese-registered Web portal offers a mixture of Australian content that will cater not only to mainland Chinese audience but to Chinese living in Australia as well.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) becomes the first western media group to manage and operate a Chinese registered Web portal in the country, the report said.
The report added that the website will contain Chinese language stories about Australia covering business, travel and education, including a selection of English language programs such as documentary, drama and children's fare.
The report said that the service is undertaken in partnership with the Shanghai Media Group, as part of the free trade agreement signed by China and Australia last year.
In June last year, ABC International signed an extended international media agreement with the Shanghai Media Group (SMG). The Australian company currently has 16 syndication and co-production partnerships with Chinese TV, radio and online organizations, including Beijing TV, CCTV, China Daily Online, Sina, Tencent QQ, and Youku, the report added.
The new Web portal came in time as the Australia Network pan-Asian satellite TV service closed down in Sept. 2014, following the withdrawal of service funding by the current conservative government.
The site contents include a feature on Australian lifestyle, travel, studying and doing business in Australia, career opportunities as well as financial, business and sports news. It will also feature Australian culture showcased through programs and stories from its partners such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Ballet.
The site will also carry the world premiere of the "Bobbie the Bear" live action kids series, featuring a lavender bear from Bridestowe Estate, Tasmania, which became popular across China.