MARKET STRUCTURE AND MEDIA DIVERSITY

摘要: I. INTRODUCTION Information on news and current affairs can raise political awareness promote a range of ideas. Under the assumption that unregulated media markets supply too little variety, many societies have charged regulators with ensuring there are sufficient opportunities for different, new, independent viewpoints (diversity), respond to interests their local communities (localism). (1) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has traditionally limited amount common- cross-ownership newspapers, radio, television (TV) stations. Recently, FCC relaxed ownership rules refocused attention market forces, example, consumer preferences new media, such as satellite, Internet, Smartphone, in order achieve diversity localism goals. Given increase choices through supporters greater concentration argue traditional should be free consolidate use efficiencies provide more diverse programming. Opponents question whether achievable, large, consolidated corporations not flexible enough serve minority communities. In this paper, we estimate (news service) described by offerings from TV, Smartphone. News service characteristics are: opinion reporting information, coverage multiculturalism issues, information community events, space or time devoted advertising. We our demand estimates calculate impact welfare change structure reduces number TV stations one. Specifically, employ willingness-to-pay (WTP) construct measure expected effects between supplied before after change. focus broadcast because they main most households direct oversight ownership. model data obtained nationwide survey during March, 2011. Results show representative is willing pay $18 $26 per month an (and slightly news) low medium level, but only additional $6 $7 move high level (or news). also values improvement reflects women minorities ($7). about $5 avoid advertising, much higher $20 level. Using (2011) structure, present evidence indicates diversity, localism, advertising services consumers lower one fewer station. As result, average "small market" (i.e., five stations) loses $.83 month, whereas "large 20 $.37 month. These losses equivalent $45 million annually all small-market United States $13 large-market households. If occurs markets, aggregate would $681 million. Other studies measured relationship structure. Flowever, these just sources comprise consumer's service; Milyo (2007), Gentzkow Shapiro (2010) Siegelman Waldfogel (2001) Crawford (2007) radio TV. …