Digital terrestrial television policies in Mexico: The telecom wars

Abstract

Keywords digital terrestrial television communications policy digital switchover convergence telecommunications spectrum rodrigo gómez garcía and gabriel sosa Plata Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico digital terrestrial television policies in mexico: the telecom wars abstract This article analyses and discusses Mexican public policies regarding the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT). We aim to show how digitization, in the Mexican context, can be thought of as an opportunity to change the duopolistic structure in television in order to obtain higher quality and greater content diversity. The methodology used here consists of a structural historical analysis of communication policies with an emphasis on digital switchover, paying special attention to the social power relations that have led to the current structural conditions of the concentrated Mexican communications system. Overall, preliminary results obtained in this research show a lack of clarity in DTT policies of the last two administrations (Vicente Fox 2000-2006 and Felipe Calderón 2006 and a reinforced hegemony of the economically dominant broadcast and telecommunications actors: Televisa, TV Azteca and Telmex, in detriment to public service, competition, local TV stations, independent production, content quality and audiences in a broader sense.