Australia’s nine strikes $30M licensing deal with Google

Sydney • Publisher and broadcaster nine entertainment Co holdings ltd has agreed on a content licensing deal with Google, one of its newspapers reported on Wednesday, the second largest Australian media outlet to strike a deal with the internet giant.

The Alphabet Inc owned company agreed to pay nine more than A$30 million a year for its content, the Sydney Morning herald reported, citing “industry sources.” The deal would be formally signed in the next two weeks, the newspaper said. nine and Google declined to comment.

nine would be the second major Australian media company to reach agreement with Google just as the country’s parliament prepares to pass laws giving the government power to set Google’s content fees.

On Monday, nine rival Seven West Media ltd said it had reached a deal that local media reported would also involve the u.s. company paying it A$30 million a year.

The Australian federal government has said it still plans to put the laws, which force Google and social media giant Facebook to strike deals with media companies or have fees set for them, to a vote in the coming weeks.