The Commission has been advised of an announcement by NZME this morning that NZME has signed a letter of intent with Google for the proposed supply by NZME of news content to Google, and that as consequence of signing a letter of intent with Google, NZME will not be participating in any collective bargaining with Google that may be authorised by the Commission (unless NZME and Google fail to execute binding agreements on the terms set out in the Google letter of intent).

NZME’s announcement does not change NPA’s application, which is continuing through the Commerce Commission process.  The next step in the process will be a decision by the Commerce Commission on whether or not it will grant provisional authorisation for collective bargaining to commence prior to it reaching its final authorisation decision.

NPA General Manager, Brook Cameron says, “Our application sets out the significant public benefits that will arise from enabling New Zealand media companies to bargain collectively with Google and Facebook, including the benefits for smaller news publishers and for the ecosystem of our local news media as a whole.”

“News and journalistic content delivers significant value for the digital platforms, Google and Facebook.  Our application for authorisation will continue to provide an option for New Zealand news publishers, including many smaller and independently owned news publishers, to address the significant bargaining imbalances in negotiating with Google and Facebook for fair and reasonable remuneration for their use of that content”.

The NPA application is being made on an “opt in” voluntary basis, with it open for NPA members, and other independent New Zealand owned media organisations, to choose to participate in the collective bargaining group should it be approved by the Commerce Commission.

For further information:
Please contact Brook Cameron, General Manager, News Publishers’ Association on brook.cameron@npa.co.nz