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Denmark – (E2) Media ownership concentration regional level

Score in short:

There is a relatively high degree of media ownership concentration at the regional level in Denmark after a period of market consolidation in the last decade.

Score in detail:

Until 2014, ownership of regional and local newspapers was characterised by five large “regional monopolies” (Schultz, 2007): Nordjydske Medier, Midtjyske Medier, Syddanske Medier, Fynske Medier, and Sjællandske Medier; however, this changed when Midtjyske Medier and Syddanske Medier were bought by Jyske Medier and renamed Jysk-Fynske Medier.

In 2020, one of the two large media companies – the foundation-owned JP/Politikens Hus – gathered its remaining 12 local newspapers (distributed in the eastern part of Jutland) under the ownership of Jyllands-Posten, after having sold off titles in Denmark (the northern part of Sealand) and Sweden (JP/Politikens Hus, 2020).

The other large media company, Berlingske Media – which has been in commercial ownership since 2000 and is now owned by Belgian De Peersgroup – used to have a portfolio of local newspapers, but these have all been sold except for a minority share in one local newspaper, Bornholms Tidende (Qvitzau, 2011).