Cross-Media and Foreign Ownership Laws

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that 2007 Australian business reforms welcome foreign media players and allow local media groups, already in place, to merge into cross-media ownership: the simultaneous ownership of television, radio and newspaper licenses and other media platforms. The author points out that the main purpose of these reforms are to maximize the business benefits of the operations of media. The paper stresses that media ownership around the world is seen as a reflection of a nation's political conditions, such as democratic countries by rights allow pluralism of ownership as exemplified by the more liberal foreign ownership laws and cross-media mergers in U.K., Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Japan.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Foreign Ownership of Media
Cross-Media Transactions
Rationale for Reform
Framework of Reform
Global Trends in Media Deregulation
Discussion and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There are no existing restrictions on media ownership for both foreign and local entities in New Zealand, Sweden and Finland. Japan previously prohibited a single firm from owning more than one TV stations but this law had been lifted. Italy and Germany are an interesting study since both countries have sternly avoided the concentration of media ownership in a few hands but this rule is followed more in the breach than in the observance. In the US, cross-media ownership of a TV license, radio franchise and newspaper is not allowed for a single person, especially in markets with three TV stations or less."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Charles Rigby (1950) in "The Staff Journalist," Pitman & Sons Ltd., at 3.
• Murray & Kruger, "Coonan Unveils Media Blueprint," The Australian, July 14, 2006, at 1.
• Discussion paper, "Meeting the Digital Challenge," March 15, 2006 at 6.
• CAMD position paper
• DPA news release, dateline NY, July 1, 2006.

More papers on Cross-Media and Foreign Ownership Laws:

• Research Paper # 75055 : "Cross-Media and Foreign Ownership Laws in Australia"
• Essay # 18560 : "Media and Foreign Policy"
• Essay # 63056 : "American Media and Foreign Policy"

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