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TVNZ, RNZ want in on negotiation

Tom Pullar-Strecker tom.pullar-strecker@stuff.co.nz

TVNZ and RNZ say they should be allowed to join other media businesses in being granted a right to collectively negotiate with Facebook and Google over payment for their content.

The News Publishers’ Association (NPA) filed an application with the Commerce Commission last month, seeking the right for New Zealand-owned media organisations to negotiate as a block in any future talks with the two

United States digital giants.

But the application excluded state-owned media organisations, including TVNZ and RNZ – as well as television channel Three owner Discovery on the basis that it is overseas owned.

TVNZ and RNZ said they supported the right for the media to collectively negotiate with Google and Facebook but that they should also be covered by the requested Commerce Act exemption.

TVNZ said in a submission to the commission that its digital news services ‘‘shared the same issue’’ as other media businesses in regard to the impact of Facebook and Google, also having an ‘‘unbalanced relationship and lack of bargaining power’’.

‘‘While these ‘must have’ digital platforms are themselves able to monetise our news and current affairs content ... approximately only 10 cents in every dollar spent on digital advertising in New Zealand goes to the New Zealand news producers that invest in producing that journalism and content,’’ it said.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson told the commission it saw merit in allowing the news media to have the option to bargain collectively. He also called for ‘‘a ‘broad church’ approach that gives all accredited New Zealand news media the option of joining this collective or, if they choose, an alternative collective’’.

Discovery’s law firm DLA Piper said there was ‘‘no good reason’’ why the TV company had been excluded.

Facebook and Google are not yet believed to have agreed to the types of negotiations that the NPA and its members – including Stuff and NZME – appear to be anticipating, which is understood to be for broad compensation for the value of their work shared.

Instead, the media organisations appear to be assuming that the Government will encourage or force Google and Facebook to the negotiating table and are acting proactively to head off the possibility of Google and Facebook using a strategy of ‘divide and rule’ in those negotiations.

The Commerce Commission gave a deadline of last Wednesday for submissions on the application, and a deadline of tomorrow for cross-submissions. There was no indication that Facebook or Google had made a submission, but a spokesman said some parties had been given an extended deadline.

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2021-12-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281715502907775

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