MIGRAIN: 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, Meta, Viacom, News Corp, Time Warner. If you were absent or didn't have time in the lesson to make these notes, research any one of the companies above and find examples of all the terminology outlined in the notes at the start of this blogpost.

Name of media conglomerate: Comcast

Conglomerate ownership: Sky, NBC universal, AT & T, charter communications

Vertical and horizontal integration: Comcast holdings corporation, Xfinity

Synergy and convergence: ABC universal

Diversification: broadcasting and cable television, internet service provider, telephone service provider 

Cross-media regulation: investigations occurred when Comcast wanted to buy Sky, however the $29 billion bid was accepted without conditions.

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.

I think governments should prevent media companies from being very dominant because it creates an unsavoury environment as the company could push all bad morals or awful ideologies.For instance, some independent movies and media companies make excellent movies with significant messages for their audience, and I think those media companies ought to be given the credit they merit because they are promoting good media that might alter people's perceptions of the media.

Media Magazine reading and questions

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'.

1) Briefly describe the production, promotion and distribution process for media companies.

The media would be created or designed by somebody that works in that chosen field , then the media would be promoted through social media platforms and sent out to people with similar audiences and interested and from that distribution then you would receive a target audience.

2) What are the different funding models for media institutions?

ITV depends on ad revenue while the BBC is supported by a licence fee and has a public service mandate. TheMailOnline earns more money the longer a reader spends on the site thanks to Sky One's investment in programming that draws devoted viewers who are more willing to commit to a long-term membership.

4) What examples are provided of the new business models media companies have had to adopt due to changes in technology and distribution?

In order to draw people into theaters, the film industry has heavily invested in 3D technology. Online newspapers now demand subscriptions or offer premium content to those who purchase mobile apps. The music business now needs to make money through live performances, merchandise, and sponsorships.

5) Re-read the section on 'The Future'. What examples are discussed of technology companies becoming major media institutions?

YouTube is now owned by Google, which has completely changed how we get music, moving-image entertainment, and information. Transparent, Orange is the New Black, and Community are just a few of the TV shows that Amazon, Netflix, and Yahoo currently develop, produce, and "broadcast."

6) Do you agree with the view that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive?

They operate in a dynamic market, so if it is ever-changing, I agree that they are having trouble surviving.

7) How might diversification or vertical integration help companies to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing media landscape? 

A company can better manage and control various facets of the production, distribution, and sales processes with the aid of vertical integration. By streamlining business operations, vertical integration typically aims to boost sales, cut expenses, and increase profits.

8) 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?

The relationship between consumers and conglomerates will be affected because if consumers shows there hate and upset at the platform they are most likely to fix up and change however those big companies will maintain that power and authority in the media industry.