Nine Entertainment Co (Nine) and Microsoft today announced an agreement that will enable Nine’s professional, high-quality journalism to play a critical role in the AI results generated by millions of Microsoft Copilot users. This is the first deal of its kind in Australia between Microsoft and a major news media company that champions original, trusted news sources through attribution, recognition and innovation.
The agreement enables Microsoft Copilot to reference the text of Nine’s masthead content in AI searches (beyond paywall previews) to contextualize and “ground” spend.
By referencing real-time reports from Nine’s publication titles, the system ensures that Copilot outputs are based on verified facts while providing references for its users.
Copilot displays excerpts, headlines and summaries and directs audiences to Nine’s masthead pages to read the full story, giving users access to a trusted source.
The agreement covers content from all of Nine’s mastheads, including The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age And Brisbane Times.
Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton said: “We are pleased to partner with Microsoft on this agreement. As AI continues to evolve, the role of verified premium journalism in anchoring these outcomes is critical.”
“This collaboration is a win-win situation as it benefits AI users while respecting copyright law and protecting the long-term value of our intellectual property,” he said.
“AI is transforming the way Australians interact with information and access to trusted sources has never been more important,” he said Jane Livesey, President of Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. “Our agreement with Nine will anchor Microsoft Copilot answers in trusted masthead formats, giving people verified facts, a clear path to the full story and confidence in what they read. Pioneering partnerships like this show how technology and media companies can work together to secure a thriving future for Australian journalism.”
Managing Director, Publishing at Nine Entertainment Tory Maguire said the deal is the first of its kind for Microsoft in Asia Pacific and represents a significant milestone in the relationship between Australian media companies and AI-focused technology companies.
“I am very excited about this deal, which will benefit both readers of our content and users of Microsoft AI.
“Microsoft has been a proactive, committed partner committed to attribution. This continues to unlock new revenue opportunities for our masthead providers as the media ecosystem continues to evolve and support local and trusted Australian journalism.”
“It means helping Microsoft provide users with more informed and higher quality information through its AI offerings, while also helping content owners,” she said.
“We meet readers where they are. By providing important context for Copilot, we ensure the AI results are based on verified facts, with a simple click on our websites to read the full article.”
https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/2026/07/03/nine-microsoft-copilot-agreement/
