There was a demand from media companies for payment against the use of their content by social media firms such as Google. Google has now set aside $1 billion plus to cover such payments for the first three years. It will pay publishers to provide blurbs for its news app and paywalled articles. Brazil and Germany will witness the launch of this programme. Branded story panels curated by partner publishers will be displayed. Panels will also link directly to publisher’s website. It is the initiation of a licensing programme to pay publishers for high quality content. Google News Showcase lets the publishers curate stories on the news that matters. It generates a new revenue stream for the publishers. 200 plus publishers in Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, the UK and Australia have tied up with News Showcase Programme.
All publishers cannot come on board, as the content may not be suitable for this product. The partners will be decided on market-by-market basis.
Licensing fee will be fixed as a flat fee for a period of time and is negotiable on the basis of the volume of content and its quality.
Some publishers have misgivings about the programme. Such a programme can dictate terms. Besides, it undemines the legislation created to bring an element of fairness.
News Showcase will be launched on Android app and at later stage on iOs.
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