Get All Access for $5/mo

Sundar Pichai Says Google will Pursue Licensing Deals with Indian Publishers Google has signed licensing deals with 300 news publishers in Europe including Germany, Hungary, France and Netherlands

By S Shanthi

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Google

Google plans to strike several licensing deals with publishers across the world and is working towards having discussions with Indian publishers as well. This was announced by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.

"Google is "working towards striking some of these conversations" in India as well," he was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Google has signed licensing deals with 300 news publishers in Europe including Germany, Hungary, France and Netherlands. Moreover, last year, the company announced a package of investments to support India's news ecosystem, including launching Google News Showcase - its new product experience for readers and licensing program for news publishers.

Since Google News Showcase was launched in India last year, it has signed deals with more than 80 partners representing more than 130 publications, including national, regional and local news organizations.

Pichai thus spoke about the crucial role news plays in India and its diversity as the news media works in so many languages in the country. "These things take time and so we are working through some of those conversations," Pichai said. Google has also expanded its Google News Showcase programme, launched in May last year, to 130 publications in India.

What India Means to Google

Pichai also said that India is incredibly important to Google and he hoped to participate in the proper legislative dialogue to address the Indian government's rethink over immunity accorded to social media firms for content on their platforms.

"We are deeply committed to the Indian economy and the digitalization of India's economy. We have announced a $10 billion India Development Fund and, and so will continue to play a role constructively there," Pichai was quoted as saying.

In the last few years, Google has invested in Indian companies including $4.5 billion in Reliance Jio for a 7.73 per cent stake and up to $1 billion in Bharti Airtel for a 1.28 per cent stake. Google has also invested in Indian startups such as Dunzo, Glance, Open, Wysa, and others, not just the large companies.

In July 2020, the tech giant announced its plans to invest $10 billion in India over the next 5-7 years through equity investments, partnerships and other arrangements to "accelerate digitization" in the country.

It had said that the fund would focus on areas such as enabling affordable access to the Internet and to information for every Indian in their own language; building new products and services in segments like consumer tech, education, health and agriculture; empowering businesses, especially small and medium ones, to transform digitally; leveraging technology and artificial intelligence for digital literacy, outbreak predictions and support for rural economies.

S Shanthi

Former Senior Assistant Editor

Shanthi specializes in writing sector-specific trends, interviews and startup profiles. She has worked as a feature writer for over a decade in several print and digital media companies. 

 

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Growing a Business

Stop Chasing Subscribers — Start Making Money With These Newsletter Hacks

Here's how operators profit from newsletters by turning acquisition costs into revenue and leveraging one audience to build multiple assets.