NEWSLETTER-2017

100 NEWSLETTER 2017 Competition Authority’s Sector Inquiry Report on Television Broadcasting* Att. Mert Karamustafaoglu Introduction Important technological transformations have been emerging in the television broadcasting sector. As a result of these changes, where- as some parts in the sector are more competitive, in the other parts, competition concerns come into play. The Competition Authority has decided to conduct a sector inquiry in order to determine the impact of the changes in the sector, to identify the encountered competition problems, and to determine remedy proposals in this respect. The Competition Authority considers the transition to the digital technology to be the reason of the change in the television broadcasting sector. Through this manner, any production can be presented through different networks, such as the internet and traditional broadcasting. Thus, consumers will have the opportunity to watch the productions of their choosing through the internet, or through traditional broadcasting channels. This technological development, which multiplies consum- ers’ options, has also paved the way for the presentation of broadband internet services and television broadcasts, together, i.e. the conver- gence. The Competition Authority states in the above-mentioned Sec- tor Inquiry Report (“Report”) that transmission capacity is no longer a problem with regard to the field of television broadcasting. In paral- lel with this, the importance of content has also begun to increase. Therefore, the Competition Authority considers (i) the decline in the importance of the transmission limitations as a result of this competi- tion among the networks, and (ii) the opportunity has arisen for con- sumers to reach the productions they prefer through various networks, * Article of September 2017