The Blubber

Google is set to provide The New York Times with approximately $100 million over a three-year period as part of an extensive agreement that enables the Alphabet subsidiary to showcase Times content on some of its platforms, according to individuals knowledgeable about the situation.

Earlier this year, the publisher announced its expanded agreement with Google, which encompasses content distribution and subscriptions, as well as the use of Google tools for marketing and ad-product experimentation. At the time, the Times did not disclose the financial specifics of the deal and declined to comment further on its previous announcement.

A Google spokesperson stated that the company does not disclose the specifics of commercial agreements with partners.

This agreement provides the Times with an extra source of revenue as news publishers prepare for a potential slowdown in the advertising market. Last year, the company reported revenue of $2.31 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year. The deal also compensates for the revenue the Times lost after Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, informed publishers last year that it would not renew contracts to feature their content in its Facebook News tab. The Wall Street Journal reported at the time that Meta had been paying the Times annual fees slightly over $20 million.

The agreement also involves the Times' participation in Google News Showcase, a product that compensates publishers for featuring their content on Google News and other Google platforms, according to some sources. While this product has not yet been launched in the U.S., it is available in other countries, including Germany, Brazil, and Australia.