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Gannett and USA TODAY Network license content to Perplexity

Gannett joined the Perplexity Publisher Program, licensing content from USA TODAY and over 200 local publications for Perplexity's search and its Comet browser. Revenue is shared, and terms were not disclosed.

MCLEAN, Va., July 30, 2025 - Gannett Co., Inc. announced a strategic deal with Perplexity to license content from USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network of more than 200 local publications. As part of the agreement, Gannett joins the Perplexity Publisher Program as one of its largest US-based media partners. Financial terms were not disclosed.1

Terms of the deal

Gannett's content will be integrated into Perplexity's AI-powered search experiences, including its newly released agentic web browser, Comet, which was available at that time to Perplexity Max and select Pro subscribers. Perplexity said Comet would reach a broader audience beginning in September.1

Gannett chairman and chief executive Michael Reed said the company is committed to ensuring its content is properly attributed and that it is fairly compensated. He said the deal lets Gannett share advertising revenue and use data to deliver shareholder value while providing credible content for users of the Perplexity platform.1 Gannett executives said on a later earnings call that the full launch of the Perplexity deal came on October 8, timed with the launch of Comet.2

Background

Perplexity launched its Publishers Program in July 2024 with Time, Der Spiegel, Fortune and others, sharing ad revenue with publishers.3 The company has also faced lawsuits from publishers over its use of content, so signing licensing deals is part of its response. Gannett separately signed a deal with Microsoft in October 2025.2

What it means for data sellers

Gannett's deal shows how a seller can license a large, distributed network of properties through one agreement. It also shows the value of tying a license to a specific product launch, since Gannett's content was timed to Comet.

Sellers should note that the compensation is described in terms of shared advertising revenue and data. Before signing, they should find out how that data will be shared and whether the seller can use it, because data about how content performs in AI answers is itself a valuable output.

This entry is a news summary. SellYourAIData was not involved in the deal.

How the deal came together

  1. Gannett announced the licensing deal. On July 30, 2025 Gannett announced a strategic AI content licensing agreement with Perplexity.
  2. The USA TODAY Network is included. Content from USA TODAY and over 200 local publications is integrated into Perplexity's search.
  3. Comet browser is covered. The content also feeds Perplexity's agentic Comet browser.
  4. Revenue is shared. Gannett's CEO said it shares advertising revenue and leverages data under the deal.

Takeaways for companies with data

  • Large local-news networks can license as one block.
  • The deal ties to a specific product, the Comet browser.
  • The CEO said the point was proper attribution and fair pay.

Sources

Every numbered reference above points to an entry here. Figures come from these pages as of the date shown at the top of the article. Where a source reports a number it got from unnamed people, the text says so.

  1. Gannett I USA TODAY Network and Perplexity Announce Strategic AI Content Licensing Agreement (USA TODAY Co., July 2025)
  2. Gannett reports third quarter results, announces Microsoft AI licensing deal (PPC Land, November 2025)
  3. Perplexity details plan to share ad revenue with outlets cited by its AI chatbot (TechCrunch, July 2024)

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About the AI Data Deal Tracker

SellYourAIData tracks publicly reported sales and licenses of data to AI companies, with the price, terms and sources for each. Entries are checked against public reporting and updated as deals change. SellYourAIData was not involved in this deal. To ask what your company's data could sell for, get a free valuation. To report a deal, contact us.