Australia’s Seven West Media In New Deal With Google For News

Australia’s Seven West Media became the country’s first major news outlet to strike a licensing deal with Google, as the government pushes ahead with a law that would force the internet giant to pay media companies for content, reported Reuters.

At an earnings announcement on Tuesday, February 9, Seven, which owns a free-to-air television network and the main metro newspaper in the city of Perth, stated it would supply content for Google’s News Showcase platform. It did not disclose terms.

The deal shows Seven splitting from rivals News and Nine Entertainment which have failed to reach agreements with Google and instead backed laws, set to be passed this week, where the government sets the online giant’s content fees in the absence of a private deal.

So far in Australia, only specialist online publishers and one regional newspaper have struck deals to receive payment for their content appearing on the new Google platform which went live in the country this month. Outside Australia, Reuters is among news outlets with similar Google deals.

“The negotiations with Google recognise the value of quality and original journalism throughout the country and, in particular, in regional areas,” said Seven West Chairman Kerry Stokes in a statement.

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