MUMBAI: The BBC appears to be scenting an opportunity that will put a spoke in rival international news network CNN in the AOL Time Warner subsidiary's own backyard. Even as merger talks between ABC News and CNN have hit a cul de sac, reports indicate that the Beeb is considering forging a radical alliance with ABC in a bid to boost its growing profile in America.
The British pubcaster already has a news gathering deal with ABC News but now wants to introduce jointly branded news services and shared bulletins, the Financial Times has reported. The link-up would allow BBC news to be distributed regularly on the ABC Network.
BBC already has a strong presence in the US, providing news to 221 public broadcasting stations and other channels including New York's WNET. BBC America cable channel is also distributed to 30 million homes.