Market Structure and Innovation Policies in Belgium

Abstract

In Belgium, the Flemish and French Community governments have developed different approaches to innovation in the media industries. Whereas the French Community enacted media (cross-)ownership regulation as part of a more interventionist approach, the Flemish government adopted a market-based approach and believed that strong domestic media organisations guarantee diversity and pluralism in the media landscape. Hence, it has set up various innovation policy instruments that stimulate the innovativeness of media groups: policymakers believe these measures enhance domestic businesses’ competitiveness in an increasingly globalising industry. The Flemish government bets on innovation instruments rather than media (cross-)ownership regulation to ensure competition and diversity in (news) media markets. This chapter discusses media market structures, media (cross-)ownership and media innovation policies in the different regions in Belgium, and provides some forward-looking recommendations for media innovation policies in the different regions.