Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/197995 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
Ilmenau Economics Discussion Papers No. 126
Publisher: 
Technische Universität Ilmenau, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre, Ilmenau
Abstract: 
This paper provides an economic analysis of recent vertical and horizontal mergers in the U.S. industry for audiovisual media content, including the AT&T-Time Warner and the Disney-Fox mergers. Using a theory-driven approach, we examine economic effects of these types of mergers on market competition, focusing on digital media content distribution. In doing so, we address three research questions: (i) Is the current development of analyzing industry with its recent merger activity concerning? (ii) Would vertical or horizontal integration be more preferable for overall welfare and competition in this industry? (iii) What are implications for antitrust policy? We conclude from our analysis that in the already highly horizontally concentrated U.S. market for audiovisual content the process of further vertical integration creates concerns from a competition policy perspective. Moreover, even though horizontal concentration on some of the market stages may be anticompetitive as well, vertical integration is likely to be more harmful. As a consequence, we recommend a stricter approach to vertical merger control in this industry, as well as a more active abuse control against already vertically-integrated media companies.
Subjects: 
competition policy
antitrust
industrial economics
digitization
media economics
institutional economics
industrial organization
mergers
vertical integration
horizontal integration
JEL: 
L42
L41
K21
K23
L82
L86
L13
D43
L51
L96
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
296.86 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.