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Industries: Ownership and control

 Media conglomerate research


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, National Amusements, Meta, News Corp, Time Warner, Comcast. 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.

Disney is one of the biggest and best-known companies in the world and has been ranked number 53 on the 2022 Fortune 500 list of biggest companies in the United States by revenue. Since its founding the company has won 135 Academy Awards 26 of which have been awarded to Walt. 
Disney Company American corporation best known as a purveyor of family entertainment. During the 20th and early 21st centuries it became one of the world’s largest media conglomerates with such holdings as ABC ESPN Pixar Marvel Entertainment and 20th Century Studios. Disney headquarters are in Burbank California.
Disney Entertainment
  • Film studios.
  • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
  • Disney Theatrical Group.
  • Disney Music Group.
  • Disney Studio Services.
  • A&E Networks.
  • The Walt Disney Company Europe, Middle East and Africa.
  • The Walt Disney Company Latin America.


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 agree that the government should prevent media conglomerates from becoming too dominant as it doesn't allow creativity and peoples own opinion to be spread across the media this doesn't allow people to chose what type of media they want to consume as it would be likely that it would be owned by a big media company. If media companies keep buying their competition there will be a lack of creativity not allowing audience to enjoy and be engaged when consuming the media. Whereas it may be a good thing as it wouldn't cause any big problems for others as all the media the same so there is no wrong 

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.

Production - production refers to the creation and development of content for various forms of media such as television film radio

Promotion- is when a media companies pushes their product out and promotes it to the public 

distribution process- The distribution process for media companies involves getting their content to the audience through various channels and platforms

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

BBC: Funded by a licence fee 
Netflix: subscription services
Sky: largest portion of Sky's income is through subscription-based payments
The Daily Mirror: funded by advertising partnerships sponsorship and affiliate commission

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. 

Disney: known as a family-friendly brand that focuses on children’s entertainment used a number of now iconic logos the dream castle Walt Disney’s signature Mickey’s ears to allow brand recognition across all their products

The Mail Online: receives more income the longer a reader stays on the site so stories will feature lots of images and videos and sensationalised or controversial 

Marvel: inextricably associated with the superhero genre as the film production studio developed from its hugely popular original comic book publications

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

In the 1980s the development of VHS made access to Hollywood films easier and more convenient. To lure viewers out of their homes and back into cinemas film studios invested in multiplex cinemas which provided more choice and more glamour and luxury for cinema goers.

In the early 2000s the music industry feared people would no longer buy music if they could download it for free therefore they created a monthly description which made listeners pay a fee every month to play their music 

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

Google now owns YouTube and has revolutionised the way we access music and moving-image entertainment and information

Facebook has bought the virtual reality technology Oculus Rift

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 as more media companies are being bought by bigger company and it is hard to be up to date with the new environment and technology we have therefore making the best choice for a traditional media institutions is being bought. Whereas they can use this as an advantage and stand out with there creativity and not get with the trend but this is highly unlikely  

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

Diversification may help the media branch out to new routes allowing it to become more seen as it is different and more unique which may help it thrive in a rapidly changing environment. Vertical integrations allows the company to save increase profit and reduce cost if a smaller media is bought as an example of vertical integration this allows that media company to be regulated by the more dominate company      

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 believe that media is growing in demand which will make the relationship between the audience and institution to be stronger as it will build a strong relationship as the company may regulate everything the viewer watches allowing them to have a trustworthy relationship between them 

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