Australia’s Seven West Media Ltd said on Monday it entered into an initial deal to form a long-term partnership with Alphabet Inc’s Google to provide content to the tech company’s News Showcase product.
Google launched its News Showcase platform in Australia earlier this month, which will see it strike its own content deals with publishers and pay seven domestic outlets to use their content. The launch of the product is Google’s latest tactic in a campaign against the Australian government’s planned legislation to make the company pay publishers and broadcasters for content that appears in its search engine.
The legislation, which Google previously said was “unworkable”, will be introduced by the Australian parliament this week. Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes said in a statement that the proposed bill had enabled the company “to conclude negotiations that result in fair payment” and ensure its “digital future”.
“Our new partnership recognises the value, credibility and trust of our leading news brands and entertainment content across seven and West Australian Newspapers. “I’d like to thank Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, with particular recognition of Treasurer Josh Freedenberg, who has been instrumental in the outcome of this ground-breaking agreement.
“Their outstanding leadership on the implementation of the proposed News Media Bargaining Code has resulted in us being able to conclude negotiations that result in fair payment and ensure our digital future,” he said.
Mel Silva, Managing Director for Google Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are proud to support original, trusted, and quality journalism and are excited to welcome Seven West Media today as a major Australian publishing partner to join Google News Showcase.”
Seven West Media is one of Australia’s leading integrated media companies across broadcast, print, and digital news and joins with 21 publications across a variety of titles as diverse as The West Australian, 7NEWS, PerthNow, the Albany Advertiser, the Geraldton Guardian, and the Broome Advertiser.
