The Welfare Effects of Bundling in Multichannel Television Markets

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2012
Volume: 102
Issue: 2
Pages: 643-85

Authors (2)

Gregory S. Crawford (not in RePEc) Ali Yurukoglu (Stanford University)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We measure how the bundling of television channels affects short-run welfare. We estimate an industry model of viewership, demand, pricing, bundling, and input-market bargaining using data on ratings, purchases, prices, bundles, and input costs. We conduct simulations of a la carte policies that require distributors to offer individual channels for sale to consumers. We estimate that negotiated input costs rise by 103.0 percent under a la carte. These higher input costs offset consumer benefits from purchasing individual channels. Mean consumer and total surplus change by an estimated -- 5.4 to 0.2 percent and -- 1.7 to 6.0 percent, respectively. (JEL D12, L11, L51, L82, M31)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:102:y:2012:i:2:p:643-85
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25