Report: Google To Pay Publishers For News

Google is to launch a “licensing program to pay publishers for high-quality content” later this year, starting in Germany, Australia and Brazil, The Telegraph reported today.

Stories from publishers in those countries will appear under Google News and Discover initially.

In a blog post, Google said it would mean they could make money their content more through an “enhanced storytelling experience.”  The programme will start in Germany, Australia and Brazil, although Google said it was also in talks with six other countries over further licensing deals. 

The Telegraph said that the Competition and Markets Authority is expected to publish its final report into the digital advertising space next week.

The News Media Association welcomed the CMA’s interim report published earlier this year and agreed with the CMA’s analysis of the relationship between publishers and platforms.

The NMA said that a full market investigation is necessary to “shed light on the open display advertising market and correct its most problematic aspects.”

The market investigation should consider the separation of Google’s ad server and ad exchange, running in parallel with the development and implementation of a “pro-competitive” code of conduct to regulate commercial arrangements between the platforms and the publishers

The code, which would bring transparency and fairness into the relationship between publishers and the platforms, should be enforced with sanctions including financial penalties.