Since the early 1990s, supervisory systems for broadcasting in most Western countries have undergone significant change. In this meticulously documented and clearly written book, leading media scholar Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem presnts a comparative study of the governmental licensing and supervision of commercial and public broadcasting in six Western countries.

The work focuses on the influence of the state on the development of regulation, the effects of current regulatory techniques, and the reaction of governmental authorities to changed circumstances in the industry.

Examining both current and past programs of supervision in each country, and tracing the links between supervisory bodies and larger political, legal, and economic systems, the book contributes to a broader sociopolitical understanding of broadcasting regulation in industrial democracies. As such, it is an invaluable resource for broadcasting and government professionals, as well as instructors and students with an interest in broadcasting regulation and international communication.

It also serves as a text in advanced courses on mass communication and international communication.