Business Models and Their Effect on Global Content Diversity

Digital transformation has profoundly redefined the structures of production, distribution, and consumption of media content worldwide. In this context, the business models adopted by media companies play a determining role in the informational and cultural diversity available to audiences. The objective of this study is to analyze how different traditional, digital, and platform-based business models influence content diversity within the global media ecosystem. To achieve this, a mixed-methods approach was employed, based on a systematic literature review of sources indexed in Scopus, a comparative analysis of media business models, and an evaluation of content diversity indicators. The sample included 85 academic studies published between 2010 and 2024 in international journals specializing in communication, cultural economics, and media management. The results show that advertising-based models tend to favor the concentration of high-consumption content, whereas subscription and hybrid funding models present higher levels of thematic and geographical diversity. Likewise, global digital platforms introduce algorithmic dynamics that may amplify the visibility of certain content but may also generate processes of cultural homogenization. Statistical analysis reveals a significant relationship between the type of business model and the content diversity index (p