Risk of Horizontal Oligopolies in the Indian Media Landscape

Abstract

This paper addresses the growing problem of media oligopolies in the Indian media landscape, which leads to the concentration of media ownership in India. It outlines the challenges posed by horizontal integration by corporations, leading to corporate control over the Indian media. The paper will also evaluate the current legal framework in India, the functioning of regulatory bodies, and the system's overall effectiveness, and use an analytical method of research to identify its shortcomings. The concentration of media and its ownership leads to a lack of media pluralism, which is essential for any working democracy. The media is often referred to as the fourth pillar of a democracy, but this term seems to be a far- reaching one without media pluralism allowed in an effective manner. This lack of media pluralism can be highlighted by looking at multiple examples of how horizontal integration affects it. There have been certain legal changes over time, but these have not addressed the risks of uncontrolled horizontal integration in the media world. Through the critical analysis, this research aims to understand how this scenario can be addressed with a progressive outlook that supports and fuels a more competitive environment. Volume 3 – Issue 1 Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Legal Research ISSN: 2582-9947