Google will power search and advertising across Fox Interactive's online properties for the next three years. The deal includes guaranteed minimum revenue share payments from Google of $900 million based on Fox Interactive Media meeting its traffic numbers and "other commitments." Fox Interactive Media includes social network MySpace, news sites Fox News and Fox Sports, gaming network IGN as well as content distribution and advertising on local TV stations owned by Fox Broadcasting.
The agreement calls for Google to power web, vertical and site specific search for MySpace.com and the majority of Fox Interactive Media properties. Google will be the exclusive provider of text-based advertising and keyword targeted ads through its AdSense program, for inventory on Fox Interactive Media's network. Google will also have a right of first refusal on display advertising sold through third parties on Fox Interactive Media's network.
The deal covers generic web search as well as vertical search integration, allowing Google Blog Search to power a blog-specific search on MySpace or Google TV search to appear on the websites of Fox stations. Local content from TV stations could provide a good local search platform for Google as well.
Fox Interactive Media president Ross Levinsohn was formerly a VP at search company AltaVista, the leading search company in the time before Google.
