Abstract
The chapter proposes an ‘open video system’ to deal with digital dominance in the online streaming video sector. TV, in its third generation, is becoming online-based and, due to the fundamental technology and economics of the medium, controlled by a few global platforms. The extent is shown by market concentration numbers developed in the chapter. How to deal with this problem? Instead of following the breakup or public utility models, the chapter advocates the enablement of information intermediaries that would act on behalf of consumers. Platforms would need to provide such intermediaries with access to those elements in which they hold significant media market power. Such access would be given by way of an applications program interface (API), priced under a most-favoured nation arrangement, and administered through industry self-regulation. The intermediaries could create bundles of services, including independent algorithms. Given that much of media content will flow by way of the large platforms, their accessibility and interoperation will help in keeping the future media system open, diverse, competitive, and innovative, without the heavy interventions of alternative approaches.