JOURNAL

The rise and fall of European media: EU policy in the streaming era

Jean K Chalaby | European Journal of Communication

This article looks at European broadcasters, arguing that – despite the persistent efforts of the European Union – a trans-national media industry has failed to take shape on the continent. The author examine the development of pan-European media consolidation in the 1980s and 90s, with the 1989 Television Without Frontiers Directive ensuring the free movement of television content within the European market. Their research shows that this growth slowed dramatically in the 2010s, as digitization and the rise of major US-based streaming platforms led to revenue stagnation for legacy broadcasters. To prevent continued decline, Chalaby argues that European authorities need to increase their support for locally-based media platforms.