Diversity versus Concentration in the Deregulated Mass Media Domain

Whereas in the United States market forces have always been key ingredients in the development of the communications sector, in the European media industry diversity of opinions has traditionally been achieved through government regulation. Yet in Europe a mixture of technological, economic, and political factors paved the way in the 1980s for the introduction of market forces in the industry. Proponents of deregulation often argue that diversity might be achieved more “freely” under market mechanisms. Critics, however, are expressing concern that market forces have led to unprecedented levels of concentration in the media field, resulting in less diversity of access and diversity of choice. The primary objective of this article is to show that the range of opinions to which the consumer-citizen has access is being limited by current media (particularly broadcasting) market structures on both sides of the Atlantic.