The report, Media, Telecommunication, and Internet Concentration in Germany, 2019-2023, authored by Lukas Barbutev, Dr. Hendrik Theine, Dr. Tobias Mast, and Josefine May Spannuth, provides a comprehensive overview of the development, economic significance, and market concentration of key players in Germany’s telecommunications, media, publishing, and internet industries from 2019 to 2023. The report places a particular focus on the increasing dominance of digital platforms.
From 2019 to 2023, the total revenue of the German media and communications industry increased from €120.7 billion to €137.0 billion, marking an overall growth of approximately 13.5%. This growth was primarily driven by the digital and internet-based sectors, which steadily increased their share of the overall media industry.
This report was compiled and published as part of the Global Media & Internet Concentration Project (GMICP). This project analyzes communications, internet, and media markets in nearly 40 countries. Since spring 2023, the HBI has been responsible for data collection and report preparation for Germany.
You can download the report here.
Summary of the Report
The Media, Telecommunication, and Internet Concentration in Germany 2019 – 2023 report provides a comprehensive overview of market concentration and the economic significance of key players across four major sectors: telecommunications, audiovisual media, publishing, and core internet applications.
Between 2019 and 2023, Germany’s total media and communications revenues increased from €120.7 billion to €137.0 billion, representing an overall growth of approximately 13.5 %. Growth was largely driven by digital and internet-based sectors, which have steadily expanded their share within the overall media economy.
Traditional sectors – including newspapers, magazines, and wireline telecommunications – continued to decline. Newspaper circulation has fallen by nearly 50 % since the 1990s, while magazine revenues decreased by about 16 % over the past five years. In contrast, digital-first segments exhibited robust expansion: online video services more than doubled their revenues (+155 %), mobile browsers grew by 85 %, and internet advertising increased by more than 50 %, consolidating its role as one of the most important sources of industry income.
The telecommunications sector remains the largest revenue generator, accounting for around 40 % of total revenues in 2023. It is also among the most concentrated markets, with Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone together controlling over 60 % of the sector, while Telefónica retains a strong third position. The audiovisual sector, now making up 23 % of total revenues, has been the fastest-growing segment – driven by streaming services and digital gaming – although traditional broadcasting has largely stagnated.
The publishing sector, once the backbone of Germany’s media economy, declined to just 13.8 % of total revenues by 2023. While books have remained relatively stable, newspapers and magazines continue to face deep structural challenges and accelerating consolidation, particularly in regional markets.
Finally, core internet applications – covering search engines, browsers, app distribution, digital intermediaries, and online platforms – have emerged as one of the most dynamic pillars of the media economy. Their share increased from 17 % in 2019 to nearly 24 % in 2023, underscoring the ongoing digital transformation. These markets remain extremely concentrated: Alphabet (Google) dominates search, mobile operating systems, and browsers, while Meta and Amazon maintain strong positions in social media and digital advertising. In several subsectors, HHI values exceed 5,000 – 9,000, far above standard competition thresholds, highlighting the structural dominance of global technology corporations within Germany’s digital media landscape.
Overall, the German media economy is undergoing a profound digital transformation. While traditional publishing and broadcast formats continue to shrink, digital platforms and internet applications have captured a growing share of revenues, shaping how information, culture, and commerce circulate. From a policy perspective, these findings raise critical questions about the balance of competition, diversity, and democratic resilience in a media environment increasingly dominated by global technology corporations.
Barbutev, L., Theine, H., Mast, T., & Spannuth, J.M. (2025). Media, Telecommunication, and Internet Concentration in Germany, 2019-2023. Global Media and Internet Concentration Project, Carleton University. https://doi.org/10.22215/gmicp/2025.12.276