Private oligopoly of communication as an arbitrary inheritance of the Brazilian State

Abstract

The work analyzes the trajectory of the media sector in Brazil, particularly the relations between the State and the private companies that have become main agents of the communication system. It seeks to demonstrate that the current market structure and competition dynamics were conformed largely by the strong intervention of the State. Besides opting for a private model, throughout time the State has built several mechanisms that have limited free competition and practically determined winners and losers a priori. The study understands the current structure of private oligopoly as an arbitrary inheritance for society. In face of this and through an advocacy perspective, the work grants the State an active role in the sector’s reconfiguration process, especially through the I National Conference of Communication (Confecom), aiming to present positions and execute actions that could contribute to correct historical distortions.