The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) members interim authorisation for 10 years to collectively bargain with Google and Facebook.
Radio stations will be allowed to collectively engage in discussions about payments for content featured on the platforms, as well as exchange information about negotiations without breaching competition laws.
“CRA now has the opportunity to act as the bargaining agent for CRA members to secure fair compensation for individual publishers for content they produce that appears on the digital platforms, to reflect the value of that content and the resources required to produce that content,” CRA CEO Joan Warner says.
“Negotiated outcomes providing compensation from Google and Facebook will help to sustain commercial radio stations in Australia, many of whom provide small and local communities with regional news and information.”
In its draft determination the ACCC said the proposed conduct is likely to result in “public benefits through reduced transaction costs, improved input into negotiations and contribution to the sustainability of Australian news businesses”.
CRA members can begin collective negotiations while the ACCC seeks feedback on CRA’s application for final authorisation.
The proposed authorisation excludes Nine Entertainment which previously announced it has reached agreements with Google and Facebook.
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