“We are now at a relative disadvantage”: SBS still without Facebook deal
SBS remains shut out of a commercial deal with Meta, impacting its revenue opportunities and role to language-based communities.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
SBS is still without a revenue deal with Meta, parent company of Facebook, despite commercial deals in place with ABC, Seven, Nine, and News Corp.
Speaking today at a Senate Estimates hearing, James Taylor SBS Managing Director said, “I think we sincerely attempted on many occasions, from about February 2021, right through till November 21…. many, many opportunities to seek feedback as to ‘Was there concern about our content offer? Was there something about the metrics that we should understand, to try and understand why there was no negotiation?’
“I think my characterisation is that, despite many efforts, absolutely no substance or information or data or facts were provided to underpin the decision that the Meta communicated to us about a desire not to enter into negotiations.”
SBS maintains it is not being fairly compensated for the content it produces that is consumed on Meta platforms.
“Secondly, as a result of every other major media organisation in the country having secured a deal, we are now at a relative disadvantage, because of course, those organisations now have more money to produce journalism for those platforms, and we do not have more money.”
Taylor also noted that the SBS audience includes over 60 language-based communities and the broadcaster worked hard to correct misinformation online.
“To many communities, Facebook is the internet, and so we feel like it has a particular impact on our audiences, which might be more pronounced than perhaps some other media proprietors.”
He added, “We’d like to play our role and to be fairly compensated for doing so.”
One Response
It’s as if the media being on Facebook was mutually beneficial and the exposure far outweighed any financial agreement.