Clarin Group

GUILLERMO MASTRINI; MARTÍN BECERRA; ANA BIZBERGE

Nairobi

Congreso; Conferencia anual de la International Association for Media and Communication Research; 2021

International Association for Media and Communication Research

The paperanalyzes the structure of Clarín Group, its consolidation and diversificationprocess in the Argentine market, with special focus on the political,regulatory, economic, technological and cultural dimensions. The article addressesthe structure of the main communication group in Argentina, Clarín Group,through the analysis of its corporate structure and the aspects thatcontributed to its expansion throughout its history: regulatory policies,economics and cultural dimension. The different stages of growth of the Groupcorrespond to the political history of Argentina in the last decades, in whichthe incidence of Clarín Group in the definition of sectorial policies wasincreasing along with its revenues and activities.  Clarín Groupis the main communications conglomerate in Argentina, both for revenues and forterritorial coverage and for its impact on audiences and users, since itexceeds 25% of all information consumption in traditional media and itsshareholders own the main Telecommunications and connectivity company in thecountry. It has a dominant position in the press industry; is associated withthe State in the production of paper for printing newspapers; publishesmagazines; participates in film productions; as well as leads the audience inthe radio industry, it has one of the two main broadcast networks and thelargest pay TV system in the country, as well as various audiovisual channels.In 2017, its shareholders acquired one of the two most importanttelecommunications companies in the country, which allowed it to enter in thefixed and mobile telecom market and increase even more its participation inbroadband (MOM, 2019). In thisscenario, Clarín Group stands as a key player in the communication andinformation market, with great capacity to influence the policy and regulationof the system, the market structure and the cultural consumption. Theconsolidation process of Clarín Group was promoted during different stages ofArgentine history from 1945, especially during the last dictatorship(1976-1983), to 2019 (Sivak, 2013; Mochkofsky, 2011; Mastrini y Becerra, 2006;Rossi, 2005; Albornoz y Hernández, 2005). In the 1970s,the newspaper expanded vertically, founding a news agency with other companiesand participating with them and the State in the shareholding of the only paperfactory for newspaper production during the last dictatorship. In the 1980s,Clarín diversified to broadcasting (radio and TV) market. In the 1990saggressively developed its entrance in the pay TV market. With the turn of thecentury, entered into the broadband market and, as of 2015, into thetelecommunications sector with the acquisition of Telecom Argentina. Until 2008,the different governments were receptive to the demands of the Group. But thatrelationship had a turning point during the governments of Cristina Fernándezde Kirchner (2007-2015). The conflict materialized in the process of discussionand subsequent enactment of the Law on Audiovisual Communication Services inOctober 2009. The regulation was an attempt by the government to modify theconcentrated structure of the sector. However, ownership concentrationremained, and even increased in some activities such as Pay TV market, led byClarín, despite the objectives set by Law (Becerra & Mastrini, 2017;Bizberge, 2017).  The beginningof Mauricio Macri´s  Presidency inDecember 2015 marked the end of the political cycle that began in 2003 withNestor Kirchner and continued by Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Macridismantled the political and regulatory framework designed in the previousgovernment.Thus, Clarín Group found in the new government an important supportthat resulted in a series of policy measures focused on ?convergence? and?competition? as policy guidelines (Bizberge, 2019; MOM, 2019). Consideringthis context, the aim of the paper is to analyze Clarin´s Group structure andpolitical, regulaory, economics and cultural dimensions. As specific objectivesstandout the study of it strategies for growth and the development of newbusiness lines guided by technological and social changes. The book alsoanalyzes the influence of the Group on the Executive and Legislative branchesfor the development and implementation of public policies, as well as its rolein the configuration of the convergent communications system in Argentina.