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. 

 

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.

Business News

Meta Makes $1 Million Dollar Donation to Donald Trump's Inaugural Fund

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also reportedly gave Trump a pair of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Marketing

Your Most Powerful Marketing Weapon Is Hiding in the Finance Department — Here's Why

Transform your marketing leadership by turning finance from a barrier into a strategic ally. Learn how aligning with your finance team can drive unprecedented growth and innovation.

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.

Starting a Business

They Bought an Ice Cream Truck Off eBay for $5,000. Now Their Company Has 70 Shops and Sells Treats in Over 12,000 Stores.

For the episode of "The Founder CEO," the co-founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream explains how one ice cream truck grew into a successful nationwide brand.

Leadership

I've Spent 37 Years in Business — Here's How I Beat the Odds and Stayed Ahead

For over thirty years, I have led a successful media production and communication consulting company. Only 25% of new businesses survive for 15 years or more, so I have beat the odds. But having staying power is not a matter of luck.