New television platforms in Spain and their influence on the market

Abstract

The acquisition of the Cuatro and La sexta television networks by Telecinco and Antena 3, respectively, has configured a new audiovisual landscape in Spain. The two new media platforms, now known as Mediaset España and Atresmedia, have accumulated considerable power in the free-to-air television market in terms of revenue, audience configuration and advertising sales figures. The objective of this article is to analyse the causes of these mergers, their influence on the Spanish television market, and to establish whether they put at risk -in terms of “relevant markets”- the survival of other players. Method. The study is based on the principles of the political economy of communication, which provides an integrated theoretical framework focused on media ownership and concentration. Results and conclusions. The overall conclusion is that, since 2010, when the first concentration deal was closed, the conditions of competition of the Spanish audiovisual market have been modified.