Broadcasting in the European Union: The Role of Public Interest in Competition Analysis

Broadcasting in the European Union: The Role of Public Interest in Competition Analysis explores whether and to what extent EC Competition law promotes media pluralism and how broadcasting's public service and commercial interests can be reconciled in Europe, where public and economic competition have traditionally been defined as distinct concepts. It employs a multi-disciplinary approach to identify how the term 'public interest' is used by different actors. Publicists, it is believed, compete on words, not on products or prices. Against the background of increased commercialisation, this book takes a different point of view. It identifies how EC law and the case law of the European Courts balance public interest considerations with economic competition on media markets. It also contrasts various policy options and examines issues from EC merger control to the marketing of sports rights. This book offers the first comprehensive application of competition analysis to European broadcasting.