Major news agencies are joining a growing number of companies demanding better terms on Apple Inc.’s App Store, a crucial link to new digital customers.

In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, a trade organization representing the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and other publishers on Thursday,. Said on Thursday that the media was seeking to qualify for terms. Improved transaction rates to keep more money on digital subscriptions. Sold through the Apple App Store.

“We would like to know what conditions our members – high quality digital content companies. Would have to meet to qualify for the contract that Amazon receives for its Amazon Prime Video app in the Apple App Store”. The letter, drafted by Digital Content Next CEO Jason Kint, lit.

The deal, revealed during a House rust-proof hearing that brought Cook and other top tech executives to Capitol Hill to testify late last month, gave Amazon a more generous revenue share. 85-15% with Apple for Prime Video in-app subscriptions. Apple typically takes a 30% discount on all in-app purchases.

This “Apple tax,” as it is sometimes called, is at the center of an EU antitrust investigation and legal and regulatory confrontation with the creator of Fortnite Epic Games… Which sued Apple last week after iPhone maker removed Battle Royale Game from the App Store for Epic Inclusion and promotion of an alternate integrated payment system. (Epic also sued Google after removing Fortnite from the Play Store for reasons similar to Apple’s.) Downsizing the App Store in addition to Apple’s other restrictions on developers have become central issues. For the iPhone maker in repeated pushes with third-party developers. In recent times, including the creator of the Hey Basecamp and Facebook messaging service.

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Now the publishers, who have had a contentious relationship with Apple since the introduction of Apple News, are also beginning to oppose the downsizing of the App Store. While Apple is not responsible for the online advertising duopoly that has helped decimate news publisher revenues over the past two decades (that would be Facebook and Google). It operates a huge news platform on iOS. and macOS in the form of Apple. The News app and its magazine subscription platform, Apple News Plus.

In the past, publishers have challenged Apple’s control over in-app ads and user data, which could help publishers monetize content shared on the platform. The New York Times notably refused to participate in Apple News Plus due to the platform’s allegedly unfavorable conditions.. And the publisher even removed all of its articles from the standard and free version of Apple News in June for reasons. similar.

In the letter, Kint refers to Cook’s response to the Amazon deal, in which Cook said these terms were available to any “eligible” developer. Cook has never clarified what these terms are and which in reality presumably involve being a rival to corporate tech giant like Amazon, whose CEO Jeff Bezos has personally negotiated with Apple’s senior vice president Eddy Cue. To secure the terms, according to emails revealed by the House antitrust subcommittee.

“Almost all DCN members offer apps in the Apple App Store and, as noted above, many offer subscription access to a wide variety of content. Apple’s single market conditions have a dramatic impact on the ability to continue to invest in high-quality, reliable information,. And entertainment, especially in competition with other large companies, ”Kint writes. “As per your statement to the Committee, I ask that you clearly define the conditions that Amazon has met for its arrangement so that DCN member companies that meet those conditions can be offered the same deal. I look forward to discussing it with you. “