Media Ownership Regulations in a Streaming World: Time to Change the Channel
Today’s media landscape bears little resemblance to the one that existed when most existing broadcast and cable regulations were created. While consumers increasingly access video content through streaming platforms subject to minimal oversight, legacy media providers continue to operate under restrictive regulatory frameworks designed for a bygone era. This regulatory asymmetry creates economic inefficiencies and distorts competition. It’s like making a basketball team play in old-school Converse All-Stars while letting a new team wear whatever shoe they want.
This post examines how technological convergence and consumer choice have rendered traditional media ownership regulations obsolete, and proposes a more coherent regulatory approach based on how the market actually operates, rather than how content is delivered. By establishing technology-neutral competition principles, policymakers can create a more efficient media marketplace, while still addressing legitimate concerns about market concentration.