Regulatory reform in the broadcasting industries of Brazil and Argentina in the 1990s

Regulatory reform has changed the organization of the broadcasting industry in Brazil and Argentina in the past decade. Although responding to a similar set of pressure, the pace, instruments, and character of reforms have been different in the 2 countries, resulting in media markets of diverse natures. This study argues that these different policy outcomes in the reform of broadcasting regulation in Brazil and Argentina reflect variations in three factors: the nature of the political system, the structure of the existing broadcasting industry, and the ideological legacy in the regulation of communication industries. The case of regulatory reform in the broadcasting industry illustrates different policy patterns in the restructuring of state-industry relations in communications and information technology industries in the 2 neighboring countries.