Description:
In an era of communicative abundance, consumers can access content anytime, anywhere and on any digital device. Safeguarding media pluralism has never before been as essential to our democracies as it is today. What role, if any, should EU competition law then play in protecting it? In delving into this question, Konstantina Bania conducts an in-depth analysis of the economics of the sector as well as the Commission's decision-making practice regarding mergers, abuses of dominance as well as anti-competitive agreements. Combining unique theoretical and practical insights, this book showcases novel tools for competition law enforcement to protect quality dimensions of competition and consumer welfare in media markets where consumers increasingly pay with their attention or data rather than money. This book is a must-read study for all scholars, competition authorities and policymakers interested in the question of how competition law can apply in such a manner that antitrust and merger assessments do not disregard non-price concerns such as privacy or diversity.
Review Quotes:
Bania's monograph provides a tour de force on the role of media pluralism in EU competition law enforcement. Dr. Maria Ioannidou - Queen Mary University
This book is a PhD thesis of high international scientific standard. Its analysis and normative proposals deserve to influence both theory and practice in the field of application of EU Competition Law in the media sector. Dr. Athanasios Tsevas - University of Athens
This book is a must-read study for all scholars, competition authorities and policymakers particularly interested in the question of how competition law can apply in such a manner that antitrust and merger assessments do not disregard non-price concerns such as privacy or diversity. Dr. Theodosia Stavroulaki - Tel Aviv University
In this fully reasoned, exhaustively documented study, Konstantina Bania goes to the heart of the overlap between two separate disciplines--EU competition law and media law. The reader will obtain a mastery of the subject matter in all of its contours. Pierre Kirch - Paul Hastings, Partner
In times of 'fake news' and growing concerns about how data-driven business models and changing consumption habits affect media pluralism and democracy, this book could hardly be more topical. Elias Raphael Caspar Deutscher - University of East Anglia / European University Institute
With its novel insights, the book is a most welcome contribution to existing literature and policy discussions in the media and digital industries.Dr. Inge Graef - Tilburg University