Mexico: IFT to probe radio and TV sector for substantial market power

Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) has launched an investigation to determine the possible existence of economic agents with substantial market power in the radio and television sectors.

The authority will review the agents’ participation in the market, determining whether any is capable of setting prices or restricting the supply of services, taking into account indicators such as customers, productive capacity and sales.

The probe will last for a maximum of 90 days, ending on November 7. In case an agent with substantial power is detected, the IFT may impose specific obligations or limitations.

After the most recent tender of 32 new television stations, the number of commercial television channels in Mexico will increase by 33%, while 141 new radio frequencies will increase the number of radio stations in Mexico by 11.5%.

In this sense, and against the sale planned by the media giant Televisa of its 17 radio stations that make up the Radiópolis Group, the IFT must re-evaluate the advertising, audience and frequency concentration in the market.