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.