Digital transformation’s impact on media concentration and news diversity: a network analysis of cross-platform news usage in Germany

The digital transformation of news media has led to significant changes in their distribution and use. Digital platforms as well as media and technology companies play a critical role in the distribution and consumption of information, which has a significant impact on media market concentration and diversity. This study applies market concentration measurements and a network analysis to investigate the static market structure as well as dynamics of cross-platform news media use in Germany. It assesses competition intensity by considering absolute market shares of media companies and brands as well as usage dynamics between different offerings. Our findings reveal that larger media companies tend to absorb and retain user attention, which decreases diversity. Smaller media companies contribute to a broader spectrum of opinions by directing and forwarding users’ attention to other media offerings. The study highlights the importance of considering not only the size but also the degree of centrality and permeability of news offers and how that impacts on core cornerstones of media market diversity. As a pilot for a longitudinal study, it provides a model that can regularly generate empirical evidence for monitoring media concentration. This provides a systematic, empirical basis for media economic and media policy decision-making.