MEDIA: New York Times strikes a content deal with FT.com

The terms of the deal are such that NYTimes.com can publish a maximum of

ten articles at a time from FT.com's business, technology and

international news coverage.

FT.com will have the same rights to run stories that originated on

NYTimes.com and all the articles will keep the branding of the site that

originally produced them.

The deal is expected to get underway next month, though no firm date has

yet been announced.

FT Group chief executive Stephen Hill said: 'This partnership between

two of the world's most respected news organisations will benefit

audiences seeking editorial insight and perspective from authoritative

and trusted online brands.'

The deal comes at a time when the FT is engaged in a stiff circulation

battle with other US business titles. Competition is especially fierce

with the Wall Street Journal on three fronts - in the US, Europe and

Asia.

The FT has invested heavily in recent years in a bid to expand its US

presence, both on the internet and in its print version.

This included the stationing of the paper's editor, Richard Lambert -

who is standing down next month - in New York for most of last year.

For its part, The New York Times has launched a daily section devoted to

the international business scene.

According to FT.com, after large investments from their parent companies

- New York Times Digital and the Pearson Group-owned FT - the sites have

vowed to make their operations profitable by late next year.

Both companies are also at the vanguard of an attempt by internet

content providers to charge for editorial material online. The 'premium

content' concept would offer users a combination of free and paid-for

copy.