Can States Regulate Media Ecosystems Amid Globalization and Convergence Trends? The Flemish ‘Signal Integrity’ Case

• In Event: Regulatory Models and Cultures in New and Convergent Media

Abstract

Taking (debates in the run up to) the ‘Signal Integrity’ legislation (July 2013) in Flanders as a case, this contribution analyses the impact of convergence on various players in the media ecosystem, focusing on struggles between broadcasters and operators. It further examines if national policy-makers/regulators have (residual) powers to act, given economic globalisation and, for EU members, legislative Europeanisation. Through an Advocacy Coalition Framework, the paper identifies and analyses the ‘broadcasters are the owner of their signal’ coalition (arguing for adoption of legislation to fight the undermining of broadcasters’ business model and content autonomy) versus the ‘this is not about ownership, but about technological innovation’ coalition, claiming legal interference hampers innovation. While the adoption of the legal proposal by Flemish parliament indicates nation-states have the power to develop their own media policy and legislation, the paper modifies this.

Authors

• Hilde Dy Van den Bulck, U of Antwerp

• Karen Donders, VU U - Brussels