Meta has agreed to a three-year AI licensing deal with News Corp, paying up to $50 million annually for content from The Wall Street Journal and other brands. The arrangement allows Meta to use the material in its AI chatbot responses and for training models. News Corp confirmed the deal, highlighting its strategy of partnering with AI firms or pursuing legal action against unauthorized use.
Meta announced a multimillion-dollar licensing agreement with News Corp on March 3, 2026, enabling the use of content from The Wall Street Journal and other News Corp brands in the US and UK. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the deal is valued at up to $50 million per year over three years. News Corp confirmed the partnership to Engadget but declined to disclose specific terms.
This follows News Corp's previous five-year agreement with OpenAI, valued at around $250 million. During a recent appearance at Morgan Stanley's annual Technology, Media & Telecom conference, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson indicated that the company was in advanced negotiations with other parties. He outlined News Corp's approach as a "woo and a sue" strategy, stating, "We'll woo you. We'd like you to be our partner. But if you're stealing our stuff, we are going to sue you. So there'll be a discount for those who hand themselves in, and there'll be a penalty for those that resist."
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the agreement, noting that the company has been reorganizing its AI teams to develop its next model. Meta has recently signed multi-year deals with outlets including USA Today, People, CNN, and Fox News. The company explained that "by integrating more and different types of news sources, our aim is to improve Meta AI’s ability to deliver timely and relevant content and information with a wide variety of viewpoints and content types."
The deal reflects growing efforts by media companies to monetize content amid AI advancements, with News Corp balancing collaboration and enforcement.
