Local media ownership and media quality

► We estimate local media market structure effects on competition and localism. ► The results depend on the econometric techniques employed. ► Cross-sectional regressions: TV station co-ownership increases news production. ► Cross-sectional regressions: TV station co-ownership reduce news ratings. ►...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Information economics and policy 2012-12, Vol.24 (3-4), p.231-242
Main Authors: Rennhoff, Adam D., Wilbur, Kenneth C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business ownership
Concentration
Consolidation
Cross-sectional analysis
Media
News media
Ownership
Regression analysis
Regulation
Regulatory agencies
Studies
Television
Television networks
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Summary:► We estimate local media market structure effects on competition and localism. ► The results depend on the econometric techniques employed. ► Cross-sectional regressions: TV station co-ownership increases news production. ► Cross-sectional regressions: TV station co-ownership reduce news ratings. ► Panel regressions: confidence intervals are tightly centered around zero. The Federal Communications Commission regulates local media ownership to promote competition, diversity and the provision of local programming. This study investigates how local media cross-ownership, co-ownership and ownership diversity are associated with media market outcomes. Cross-sectional regressions indicate that television station ownership consolidation is associated with increased local TV news production but lower news ratings. However, panel estimation finds that changes in local media ownership are uncorrelated with local media usage or programming, producing confidence intervals that are tightly centered around zero.
ISSN:0167-6245
1873-5975
DOI:10.1016/j.infoecopol.2012.08.001