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 didn't have time in the lesson to make these notes, research any of the companies above and find examples of all the terminology outlined in the notes at the start of this blogpost.

Conglomerate ownership is a large company composed of a number of small companies. This includes media products such as print, television, radio, movies or online. 

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 government should prevent media conglomerates as it does make that bigger company more dominant the the other smaller companies within it. However some may argue that having a conglomerate gives more publicity to the smaller companies as they will be notices by being owned by the bigger brands. 

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 production process provides audiences with the media products they want. It needs to consider the audience’s desires and should provide the gratifications the audience expects.

The promotion process researches and identifies the target audience for the product, and uses advertising and marketing strategies to inform and persuade them of the value of the media product.

The distribution process uses the most appropriate methods for getting the product to the audience and making it as easy as possible for them to access it.

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

Licence fee paid by the public.

Sales of DVDs, magazines, merchandising and other BBC products.

Sales of programmes and formats to other broadcasters.

 Fees paid by advertisers buying advertising space on the channel.

Programme sponsorship.

Sale of its programmes and formats to other broadcasters.

One Income is generated by subscription fees and advertising revenue.

Sony Sales of hardware such as PS4.

Sales of games and associated merchandising.

Advertising and sales via online community.

Sales of music.

Film sales.

Licensing of music (for advertising, gaming, film soundtracks etc.).

Profits from online games and standalone gaming products.

The MailOnline Sale of advertising space.

Advertorial features.

Sponsorship.

3) 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. 

The writer is saying that that ITV is relies mostly on advertisers. This means than larger audiences are more valuable to them that niche audiences. 

The MailsOnline relies on how long a reader stays online. Therefore this company relies on their subscribers to the company and how many people read their news. Therefore they add many images to interest the audience and draw them into clicking there company's work. 

Skyone relies of the amount of subscribers it has. Therefore it needs viewers for the company to be successful. 

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

The music industry is seen as a new business model as they and had to reconsider their business models. This is because they can no longer generate most of its profits through the sale of music itself, so other ways to make money have been sought.

 

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

Technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google and Yahoo are, by their very nature, at the forefront of change; they too have become ‘media institutions’. Amazon, Netflix and Yahoo now create, produce and ‘broadcast’

their own TV shows, such as Transparent, Orange is the New Black and Community.

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

Yes i do think that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive as there are newer things now which attracts more people today, as newer technology is being introduced displaying better quality and higher more advanced media institutions. 

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

Diversification would help a company survive as people love to see a diverse community, because it shows equal rights. Vertical integration would help build a company and help build there profile as other companies would be involved. This helps attract an audience as it would be more popular.

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?

I think Audiences will gain increasing power because without an audience media conglomerates would have no purpose or use.