Abstract
Mike Feintuck, “Regulating Media Ownership in the Public Interest: Principles
Beyond Competition,” Journal of Media Business Studies, 6(3):63-77 (2009).
Key Words: concentration, media ownership, regulation, public interest
The difficulties of regulating the giant corporations which operate within the broadcast and
print media are well-charted. Whether on a local, national or international scale,
establishing or maintaining anything beyond a meager oligopolistic version of competition
appears to be a near impossible task. Despite this, governments persist with regulatory
intervention to pursue a competitive environment, or at least address the consequences of
oligopoly. It is clear, however, that such interventions incorporate “public interest”
premises which extend beyond the economic values associated with the effective or
efficient operation of markets. This article explores these issues in the context of two
recent developments in the U.K.: the regulatory and legal response to BSkyB’s purchase
of a substantial shareholding in ITV, and, the Inquiry of the House of Lords Select
Committee on Communications into media ownership and its impact on news output.
These developments illustrate the importance of clear principles within the conceptual
framework which underpins the regulatory endeavour in this area.
Mike Feintuck, “Regulating Media Ownership in the Public Interest: Principles
Beyond Competition,” Journal of Media Business Studies, 6(3):63-77 (2009).
Key Words: concentration, media ownership, regulation, public interest
The difficulties of regulating the giant corporations which operate within the broadcast and
print media are well-charted. Whether on a local, national or international scale,
establishing or maintaining anything beyond a meager oligopolistic version of competition
appears to be a near impossible task. Despite this, governments persist with regulatory
intervention to pursue a competitive environment, or at least address the consequences of
oligopoly. It is clear, however, that such interventions incorporate “public interest”
premises which extend beyond the economic values associated with the effective or
efficient operation of markets. This article explores these issues in the context of two
recent developments in the U.K.: the regulatory and legal response to BSkyB’s purchase
of a substantial shareholding in ITV, and, the Inquiry of the House of Lords Select
Committee on Communications into media ownership and its impact on news output.
These developments illustrate the importance of clear principles within the conceptual
framework which underpins the regulatory endeavour in this area.
