Australia news media 'large and small' discuss Google deals
GOOGLE was quickly negotiating generous deals with big and small Australian media companies to pay for news as the Parliament considers forcing digital giants into such agreements, a minister said on Wednesday.
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Canberra: GOOGLE was quickly negotiating generous deals with big and small Australian media companies to pay for news as the Parliament considers forcing digital giants into such agreements, a minister said on Wednesday.
Seven West Media on Monday became the largest Australian news media business to strike a deal with Google to pay for journalism and its rival Nine Entertainment was reportedly close to announcing its own agreement. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed that state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corp. was also in negotiations and plans to spend any Google revenue on regional journalism.
"There are negotiations going on with all the major players and the minor players at the moment," Frydenberg told reporters. "This will help sustain public interest journalism in this country for years to come." Frydenberg said "none of these deals would be happening" if not for proposed legislation to create a so-called News Media Bargaining Code.
