The ownership concentration on the regional level has not been discussed as much as the controversial media mergers involving national media players. However, the strong concentration of local and regional newspaper ownership is evident on regional media markets. The number of regional newspaper titles has not changed dramatically, but most regional newspaper markets are completely dominated by a single owner group. Today, there are many examples of diverging models of media mergers, ranging from complete take-overs to different forms of joint ventures. True competitive regional newspaper markets exist only in five areas (Dalarna, Värmland, Kalmar län, Karlskoga and Motala). The country is divided into 100 regional/local newspapers markets, and most of them are controlled by one dominant newspaper owner group.
Table 6. Newspaper companies’ markets shares in newspaper regions
| Market share (%) | Number of newspaper regions | Accumulated numbers |
| ≥ 98 | 25 | |
| 90-97 | 16 | 41 |
| 80-89 | 13 | 54 |
| 70-79 | 8 | 62 |
| 60-69 | 5 | 67 |
| 50-59 | 3 | 70 |
| 40-49 | 2 | 72 |
| 30-39 | 3 | 75 |
| 20-29 | 8 | 83 |
| 10-19 | 17 | 100 |
Source: Sundin 2010.
Regional public service radio offers 25 regional stations. The fourth public service radio channel, P4, is dominated by regional news and programmes. The private radio market was deregulated in 1993, but the number of station owners has decreased significantly, and today only two owner groups control all local commercial radio stations: MTG Radio (radio rix) and SBS Radio (Mix Megapol). regional TV has only two major players: Sveriges Television (public service) and TV4 (Bonnier). regional TV news is not offered in regional channels, but appears in regional news “windows” on the national channels.
