With digital technologies blurring media boundaries, this book provides a detailed analysis of how the Internet is producing a convergence of the press, audio-visual and online media. Based on extensive empirical analysis, the authors analyse over 25 years of changes to media forms and expose the reality behind the notion that media convergence is inevitable and inexorable. Peter Humphreys and Seamus Simpson break new ground through exploring a diverse range of topics at the heart of the media convergence governance debate, such as next generation networks, spectrum, copyright and media subsidies. They highlight how reluctance to accommodate non-market based policy solutions creates conflicts and problems resulting in only shallow media convergence thus far. Highly accessible, this book is a valuable read for undergraduate and masters students researching digital media and communications. With guidance on a series of policy directions and innovations that should be developed to fulfil the promise of media convergence, it is also a vital tool for media and communication practitioners and policy makers.
