Market Structure and Innovation Policies in Finland

Abstract

This chapter provides a summary of the contemporary market structure, recent development of news media markets and of the main features of the hitherto outlined innovation policies in Finland. The development of the market concentration of media sector is featured along the main subsectors, i.e. newspaper publishing, television and radio broadcasting, showing the growing importance of Internet and differences in the development of market concentration and the central role that public service has maintained in broadcasting. This chapter discusses the current state of the policy regulating the ownership concentration in the news media sector and what can be anticipated in this regard. These features set the stage for the implementation of innovation policy, the recent measures and course of conduct of which are described in detail together with the recommendations and guidance that have been provided in order to foster future innovation and growth. This chapter also reflects on the challenges posed by and opportunities arising from the EU-level strategies. A central finding in the chapter is that the news media sector has indeed adapted to the changing circumstances and that the innovation policy shows a, maybe optimistic, reliance on the ability and role of small and medium sized enterprises to serve as a main sources innovation in the media sector, allocating established large players a role of catalyst in this process.

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