Editing Mass media in Romania (section)

====Legal framework====
'''Audiovisual Law'''

The Audiovisual Law (RP 2002) applies to television and radio: (1) Article 44 establishes that [[concentration of media ownership]] and increase in audience shares must not generate [[Dominance (economics)|dominant positions]] in the formation of public opinion. A media company is considered in a dominant position if its share from the national sector-based market is over 30%. Public service broadcaster is exempted. (2) The law "limits the number of media companies in which an owner can hold a majority of shares to one, with the additional possibility to hold an amount not larger than 20% from another company in the field of audiovisual communication."<ref name=Baya /> (3) A "transfer of an audiovisual license is only possible with the approval of the NCA and results in a complete shift of responsibilities to the new license owner (Art. 56). This is particularly relevant for cases of mergers or acquisitions, in which the NCA can intervene by not approving the transfer of license."<ref name=Baya />

The [[National Audiovisual Council]] appears however "more concerned with the regulation of content than with that of the market"<ref name=Baya /> The Audiovisual Law does not target vertical concentration/cross-media ownership.<ref name=monitor>{{cite news |author=Marina Popescu |author2=Adina Marincea |author3=Ioana Lupea |author4=Ruxandra Gubernat |author5=Roxana Bodea |date= October 2015|title= Romania – Results 2015|url= http://monitor.cmpf.eui.eu/mpm2015/results/romania/|work= Media Pluralism Monitor|access-date= 2017-03-27|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200600/http://monitor.cmpf.eui.eu/mpm2015/results/romania/|archive-date= 2017-03-28}}</ref>

'''Competition Law'''

The Competition Law (RP 1996, amended in 2001) applies to all economic sectors. Its focuses mainly on preventing market dominance. Concentration is not illegal in itself, but only when it creates or consolidates a dominant position. Still, it is allowed in some cases, such as when it improves [[Economic efficiency|efficiency]].<ref name=Baya /> The law also targets vertical concentration/cross-ownership. The Competition Council (''Consiliul Concurenței'') is in charge. The law also applies to print media. However, the CC policies are only based on economic principles, without attention for media pluralism.