Mediahuis Ireland

UK Publishers Back AI Compensation Startup ProRata

UK news publishers Guardian Media Group, Sky News, and dmg media have signed up to ProRata.ai, a startup seeking to credit and compensate publishers when their content is surfaced by generative AI on a per-user basis. Dmg media has invested an equity stake, becoming the first UK news publisher to do so. Additional partners in the UK and Ireland include Reach PLC, Mediahuis, Mumsnet, Hello!, Prospect, and Exponential View, joining existing supporters such as Axel Springer, Fortune, Time, The Atlantic, and Universal Music Group. ProRata’s proposed ‘answer engine’ is planned to launch this year, with 50% of revenues from ads and subscriptions distributed to partnered publishers according to how much their content informs AI outputs. The technology analyzes AI output to measure content contribution and sources content only from licensed partners, aiming to provide fair attribution and a sustainable economic model for journalism. Bill Gross, ProRata’s CEO, notes strong interest from content owners worldwide for pilots.

Taboola Partners with Mediahuis for Enhanced Content Recommendations

On June 11, 2024, Taboola announced an exclusive three-year partnership with Mediahuis Ireland, Ireland’s largest media group, to power content recommendations across its brands, including The Irish Independent and Sunday World, and complement an existing arrangement with The Belfast Telegraph since 2014. The deal deploys Taboola’s widget and Explore More across Mediahuis Ireland’s digital properties—homepages, article pages, and mobile apps—to deliver personalized, multi-format recommendations, expand audience reach, and drive engagement and revenue. The integration extends to high-impact reader touchpoints and social media/app referrals, with Taboola aiming to grow session depth and monetize more effectively. Taboola also notes recent partnerships with CAIRORCS MEDIA and TelevisaUnivision, and that more than 9,000 digital properties globally integrate Taboola, including Yahoo, BBC, and The Independent. Executives Connor Diamond and Adam Singolda emphasized benefits in audience growth and monetization.

Telegraph for Sale: Who Will Bid?

Lloyds Banking Group is seeking to recover debts owed by Telegraph owners, placing the Telegraph Media Group’s holding company, B.UK, into receivership. The Daily and Sunday Telegraph are expected to go up for auction, with bidders rumoured or named for years. Potential buyers include DMGT, News UK (The Times), National World (The Scotsman), Future, and Bauer Media; non-news suitors could include large publishing groups. European contenders cited include Axel Springer, Mediahuis, and DPG Media Group, while a Saudi investor, Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel, may also be in the running. Jeff Bezos/Amazon and the Washington Post have been linked in past reports. Lazard has been appointed to explore the sale. Regulatory hurdles around competition and media plurality are noted. Enders Analysis commentators suggest interest would be strong, even as editorial independence concerns loom under Lloyds’ ownership. The process has circulated since 2016, with Lazard coordinating discussions.