Is Convergence the “Killer Bug” in the Media Ecosystem? The Case of Flemish Media Policymaking 2010–2015

Abstract

This contribution analyzes how the government, regulatory agencies and stakeholders in the media system of the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium employ the “convergence argument” to formulate claims in policymaking processes. To this end, the chapter analyzes three key moments in media restructuring in Flanders between 2010 and 2015: the merger of printing activities of the multimedia groups Corelio and Concentra, the struggle between Flemish broadcasters and operators, and policy discussions regarding the 2016–2020 management contract between public service media VRT and the Flemish government. The Flemish case is indicative of the wider discursive use of the convergence buzzword that helps to push an economic agenda and furthers media policies that are reflective of controlled liberalization, favoring local interests.