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Seven announces deal with Facebook hours after the tech giant backflips on news sharing

Seven West Media has announced it has signed a letter of intent to provide news content to Facebook. The announcement comes just hours after Facebook revealed it would allow the sharing of news content on its platform after the Australian government agreed to make amendments to the news media bargaining code.

Stokes labelled the partnership “significant”

Seven was also the first of the major media to sign a letter of intent with Google to join its News Showcase.

Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes said: “The establishment of this new partnership with Facebook is a significant move for our business and reflects the value of our original news content across our successful metropolitan and regional broadcast, digital and print properties.

“On 15 February we announced a LOU for a partnership with Google, to provide news content to the Google Showcase product.

“Together, the two announcements are a strong recognition of the quality and credibility of our leading news brands and entertainment, and will enable us to continue to build our digital platform,” he said.

“These partnerships would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher, and we thank them.”

Easton: “We have always been committed to supporting journalism”

Will Easton, managing director of Facebook Australia and New Zealand, said, “We are pleased to confirm our investment through a Letter of Intent with our partners from Seven West Media. This agreement brings the premium news content Seven produces from its newsrooms across Australia to Facebook. We have always been committed to supporting journalism and our agreement today continues our work with the news community in Australia.”

Just last Thursday, Facebook announced it would restrict the sharing of Australian news content on its platform, with all news links removed as well as the content from the Facebook pages of Australian publishers.

Google has already announced a number of deals with Australian media reportedly worth around $30m in some cases including with Seven, Nine, News Corp and Junkee.

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