Industries: Ownership and Control
1) Type up your research notes from the lesson - what did you find out about your allocated media conglomerate? Selection of companies: Alphabet, The Walt Disney Company, Comcast, 21st Century Fox, Facebook, Viacom, News Corp, Time Warner. If you were absent or don't have the notes, research any of the companies above and find examples of all the terminology outlined in the notes at the start of this blogpost.
- The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate, headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. It is the world's second largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue, after Comcast
2) Do you agree that governments should prevent media conglomerates from becoming too dominant? Write an argument that looks at both sides of this debate.
Yes, I think the government should prevent media conglomerates from becoming too dominant because it could own too much of the market meaning there will be less variation for the consumers of media texts. If a media conglomerate becomes too dominant it could also reduce the amount of other conglomerates which means there would less competition. Having competition is useful because it would reduce the prices of some items which is beneficial for the consumers as they would have to spend less money. However, having one or two dominant media conglomerates could provide content that is not biased and the content would be more controlled.
Yes, I think the government should prevent media conglomerates from becoming too dominant because it could own too much of the market meaning there will be less variation for the consumers of media texts. If a media conglomerate becomes too dominant it could also reduce the amount of other conglomerates which means there would less competition. Having competition is useful because it would reduce the prices of some items which is beneficial for the consumers as they would have to spend less money. However, having one or two dominant media conglomerates could provide content that is not biased and the content would be more controlled.
Media Magazine 52 has a good feature on the changing relationship between audiences and institutions in the digital age. Go to our Media Magazine archive, click on MM52 and scroll to page 9 to read the article 'Two Key Concepts: The Relationship Between Audience and Institution'.
3) Briefly describe the production, promotion and distribution process for media companies.
Production: Audiences are provided with media products they want and which consider their desires.
Promotion: This is where the target audience is researched and identified for the product and using marketing strategies to inform and persuade them of the value of the product.
Distribution: This process uses the easiest and most useful method to get the product to the consumer.
Production: Audiences are provided with media products they want and which consider their desires.
Promotion: This is where the target audience is researched and identified for the product and using marketing strategies to inform and persuade them of the value of the product.
Distribution: This process uses the easiest and most useful method to get the product to the consumer.
4) What the different funding models for media institutions?
BBC: funded by a license fee
ITV: income generated by advertising
Sky One: income is from subscribers and investments
The Mail Online: how long consumers spend on their site
ITV: income generated by advertising
Sky One: income is from subscribers and investments
The Mail Online: how long consumers spend on their site
5) The article gives a lot of examples of major media brands and companies. Choose three examples from the article and summarise what the writer is saying about each of them.
Waitrose: It is represented as a sophisticated place to shop with very high quality "gourmet" food. Where as stores like Asda and Tescos are known for their low prices and bargains. Due to this branding, Waitrose has a better reputation than Tescos or Asda because of the great quality associated with their products.
Disney: It is known as a family-friendly brand where their products will always be suitable for children. Disney has created a "universe" of merchandising and branded products such as Disneyland. Disney's brand is distinctive because they have iconic logos like the dream castle or mickey mouses ears which provided recognition across all their products.
Marvel: Associated with the superhero genre because the film production studio has developed from comic books. Marvel films contain violence but are associated with values such as sacrifice, duty and responsibility. This brand creates a reassuring expectations for the audience/
Waitrose: It is represented as a sophisticated place to shop with very high quality "gourmet" food. Where as stores like Asda and Tescos are known for their low prices and bargains. Due to this branding, Waitrose has a better reputation than Tescos or Asda because of the great quality associated with their products.
Disney: It is known as a family-friendly brand where their products will always be suitable for children. Disney has created a "universe" of merchandising and branded products such as Disneyland. Disney's brand is distinctive because they have iconic logos like the dream castle or mickey mouses ears which provided recognition across all their products.
Marvel: Associated with the superhero genre because the film production studio has developed from comic books. Marvel films contain violence but are associated with values such as sacrifice, duty and responsibility. This brand creates a reassuring expectations for the audience/
6) What examples are provided of the new business models media companies have had to adopt due to changes in technology and distribution?
Film studios: developed new technologies in order to attract audiences back to cinemas because they feared they had lost its consumers to TV. The new technology developed was a device that delivered shocks to seats, ' smell-o-vision' and 3D.
Music industry: they thought that consumers would stop buying music if they could download it for free. Their profits were threatened and therefore decided to start producing streaming sites, merchandise and live shows
Online newspapers: they started requiring subscriptions for premium/ specific content to be available for audiences
Film studios: developed new technologies in order to attract audiences back to cinemas because they feared they had lost its consumers to TV. The new technology developed was a device that delivered shocks to seats, ' smell-o-vision' and 3D.
Music industry: they thought that consumers would stop buying music if they could download it for free. Their profits were threatened and therefore decided to start producing streaming sites, merchandise and live shows
Online newspapers: they started requiring subscriptions for premium/ specific content to be available for audiences
7) Re-read the section on 'The Future'. What examples are discussed of technology companies becoming major media institutions?
Google now owns YouTube and has changed the way people access music and entertainment.
Amazon, Netflix and Yahoo now create and broadcast their own shows such as Orange is the New black.
Google now owns YouTube and has changed the way people access music and entertainment.
Amazon, Netflix and Yahoo now create and broadcast their own shows such as Orange is the New black.
8) Do you agree with the view that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive?
Yes, I think that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive because they are forced to change to the way audiences consume media now. In order to maintain their profits and success they will have to adapt to the changes.
Yes, I think that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive because they are forced to change to the way audiences consume media now. In order to maintain their profits and success they will have to adapt to the changes.
9) How might diversification or vertical integration help companies to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing media landscape?
Vertical integration may help because it allows the business to have control over all aspects including the production process which helps maximise profits. Diversification helps because it allows media companies to expand across different fields for example Virgin started off as a music label but has now expanded into transport, TV, cinema and insurance.
Vertical integration may help because it allows the business to have control over all aspects including the production process which helps maximise profits. Diversification helps because it allows media companies to expand across different fields for example Virgin started off as a music label but has now expanded into transport, TV, cinema and insurance.
10) How do YOU see the relationship between audience and institution in the future? Will audiences gain increasing power or will the major global media conglomerates maintain their control?
I think conglomerates will still maintain their control because the own and control many of the worlds largest companies that audiences use to put up their content and if it weren't for their platforms the audiences wouldn't be able to do that. I think that traditional ways of consuming the media will not be able to survive because the audiences will find other ways but still the media institutes would develop new ways in the future in order to maintain their control.
I think conglomerates will still maintain their control because the own and control many of the worlds largest companies that audiences use to put up their content and if it weren't for their platforms the audiences wouldn't be able to do that. I think that traditional ways of consuming the media will not be able to survive because the audiences will find other ways but still the media institutes would develop new ways in the future in order to maintain their control.
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