Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) held “2009 KISDI International Seminar: Media Industry in Global Competition,” the second in a series on February 16.

With Professor Eui-son Yoo from Ewha Womans University, Korea, as moderator, Professor Eli Michael Noam from Columbia University, the U.S., made an in-depth explanation on media market concentration in America during the last 25 years in his presentation titled “Media Concentration in America: Trends, Drivers, and Lessons.”

Professor Noam said concentration is higher in the media sector than in the non-media sector. In addition, he diagnosed, the ownership concentration level in the mass media sector is the lowest, compared with other information sectors including telecommunications, the Internet, etc.

However, Professor Noam forecast that digital convergence would form the “fan-shape” market structure for the mass media sector with a few large media groups and a number of small-sized content providers in the near future. 

Moreover, according to Professor Noam, the structure of a few large media groups and a number of small-sized content providers could be economically efficient. However, he expected the structure to be less favored in the society. Also, he said, globalization could be another driver accelerating media concentration.

In the discussion session, experts from the academia including Professor Dae-ho Kim from Inha University, Korea, and Professor Ki-young Lee from Hallym University, Korea, attended as discussants, having an in-depth discussion about the suggestions the U.S. case and its economic analysis propose on Korea’s media market restructuring.