But Mr Joyce says negotiations between the concerned coalition members and Communications Minister Helen Coonan will continue.
Those in the coalition opposed to the legislation are most concerned about media ownership in regional centres.
Asked by reporters if a majority of coalition MPs and senators from the bush were fighting the plan, Senator Joyce said: "I'd say from the ones I have seen, that would be the case.
A parliamentary inquiry last week recommended changes be made to the proposed laws, due to be introduced to parliament for debate.
The changes recommended by the inquiry, and backed by Nationals senators, include measures to protect media diversity in the bush.
The changes would free up the rules to allow companies to own any media assets as long as there were at least five media operators in mainland capitals and four in other areas.
The committee's report adopts the Nationals' call for a so-called 'two out of three' test to protect media diversity in the bush, stopping a proprietor from owning more than two of three formats - radio, television and newspaper.
Media push about profile: Tuckey
But the push by the Nationals for a rewrite of proposed laws is more about country members wanting to promote themselves on the local TV news than media diversity according to Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey.
"It's a silly issue," Mr Tuckey told reporters.
Mr Tuckey said whenever country news organisations were short of news they usually filled the gap with announcements by the local MP.
The maverick West Australia said he did have a problem with the media reform bill as a whole, saying it was still too restrictive.
He said restrictions on the number of media players allowed in certain markets should be lifted completely to allow as many players in as possible.
"Why not just deregulate it," Mr Tuckey said.
Prime Minister John Howard has signalled he could scrap new media laws if he cannot win the support of key Nationals members.
No confidence in watchdog: Entsch
But one of Mr Tuckey’s colleagues, Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch, says parts of the government's media bill should be scrapped if changes are not made, warning he has no confidence in government watchdogs to properly police reforms.
The North Queensland MP said changes should be made because he had little faith in the ability of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ensure there was a diversity of opinion in country areas.
Communications Minister Helen Coonan has said the powers of the ACCC should be enough to police the new laws.