Chile: Citing concentration concerns, Legislators attempt to block broadcaster sales

Chilean TV broadcaster Mega, owned in part by Bethia investment group and the US based Discovery Network, announced it has struck an agreement to purchase rival Grupo Bezanilla’s radio broadcasters Radio Romántica, Infinita and Tiempo. The move drew quick reactions from Chile’s Communist Party, with several legislators vowing to bring the case before the National Economic Prosecutors office (FNE), in order to address possible media concentration concerns.

PC deputies Lautaro Carmona and Daniel Nuñez criticised the deal struck between the Bethia and Bezanilla groups, which would leave Mega with an important hold over the media industry, with 5 major broadcasters under its wing.

“It’s not only about concentration in communications media due to the amount of capital involved, but about the concentration of media that are key for constructing a well-formed, critical society, which requires access to diversity in news and opinion. What this action does is to strengthen a sort of dictatorship in communications, where the line is set by companies that have a monopoly across several media, where they construct virtual realities around which people’s opinions and exchanges then revolve”, said Congressman Carmona.

Full Content: Crónica Digital

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