Battle Brews Over Media Influence in Peru

By: Ryan Dube | Wall Street Journal

A debate over concentration of media ownership in Peru heated up this week, with the president accusing the largest media conglomerate of dangerously amassing influence and calling on the legislature to address the issue.

The dispute erupted after Grupo El Comercio's purchase last year of a majority stake in Empresa Periodistica Nacional SA, known as Epensa. The $17 million acquisition increased El Comercio's share of Peru's newspaper market to more than 70% of sales from about 50%.