Seven has deal with Google

SYDNEY: Australia’s Seven West Media Ltd has become 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.

Yesterday, Seven, which owns a freetoair television network and the main metropolitan newspaper in Perth, said it would supply content for Google’s News Showcase platform. It did not disclose terms.

Seven split from rivals News Corp and Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd, 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 for 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,’’ Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes said.

Google Australia chief executive Mel Silva said the US company was ‘‘proud to support original, trusted, and quality journalism’’ by featuring Seven.

Last month, Silva told a parliamentary hearing Google would pull its search engine from Australia if the socalled News Media Bargaining Code became law. A Google representative declined to comment on the effect of the Seven deal.