The Commerce Commission has received applications from News Publishers’ Association of New Zealand Incorporated (NPA) seeking authorisation and provisional authorisation on behalf of itself, and its current and future members to collectively negotiate with each of Facebook and Google about the terms on which their news content appears on each platform. The NPA seeks authorisation for a period of 10 years.
NPA is an industry association whose membership consists of regional and national New Zealand news media companies. NPA advocates on behalf of the news media industry of New Zealand. NPA currently represents approximately ten news media companies.
Facebook provides online social media and social networking services. Google provides internet-related search services and products. Facebook and Google display news and journalistic content from New Zealand news media companies on their respective platforms.
NPA considers that any lessening of competition as a result of New Zealand news media companies collectively negotiating with Facebook and Google would be outweighed by the public benefits that are likely to arise. According to NPA, these benefits include likely reducing the costs of negotiating with the digital platforms, addressing significant bargaining imbalance with Facebook and Google, and various efficiency benefits. NPA also considers that outcomes achieved through these collective negotiations would assist in supporting the sustainability of New Zealand news media companies, and therefore contribute to greater media plurality and resources toward combatting disinformation and malinformation in New Zealand news and journalism.
A public version of NPA’s authorisation and provisional authorisation applications are available on the Commission’s case register.
The Commission seeks submissions from interested parties on the appropriateness of allowing NPA to give effect to the proposed collective negotiations while the Commission considers its application for authorisation.
