ACCESS

• Can anyone “own” information?

• Who has access to this information?

• What are the barriers to entry?

• What are the implications of media concentration?

• How has the Internet changed ownership?

• From the Digital Divide to the Participation Gap

Regulators vs. De-Regulators

&

MR. MEDIA

you

Mr. Media Grows

Mr. Media Grows

FOUNDATIONS OF THE EXPLORATION

• Who are the big Media Companies?• How do they grow?• What are the implications of their growth?• What does this mean for the civic voice?• Do we (citizens) really have a voice? If so, what

does it sound like?• What does this new relationship between users &

producers mean for the Media Landscape?

Who is Mr. Media?

Can you name the 7 media conglomerates that own and operate over 75% of the mass media messages you see today?

World’s Largest Media companies (total revenue in 2005)

Company Revenue (in Billions)

1. General Electric $157.2*2. Time Warner $43.73. Walt Disney Co. $31.94. News Corporation $23.95. Bertelsmann $22.26. CBS $14.57. Viacom $9.8

* 14.7 USbillion revenue from media ventures

Table 1: World’s Largest Media Companies

Source: FreePress Ownership Chart: http://www.freepress.net/resources/ownership

In case you weren’t aware…

and…

How Do they Grow?

• 1996 Congress passes Telecommunications Act.

• FCC continues to ease ownership regulations.

1. Merge & Acquire

Merger Media

Approximate number of daily newspapers in North America

1800

Approximate number of magazines in North America 11,000

Approximate number of radio stations in North America

11,000

Approximate number of television stations in North America

2,000

Approximate number of book publishers in North America

3,000

Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media listed above in 1984

50

Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media listed above in 1987

26

Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media listed above in 1996

10

Number of companies owning a controlling interest in the media listed above in 2002

6

2. Synergy & Branding

Synergy

Definition: refers to the dynamic in which components of a company work together to produce benefits that would be impossible for a single, separately operated unit of the company

Branding

If a brand is associated with a quality or image that a consumer likes, the consumer tends to choose the branded version of a traditional product or to try a new product from the same brand

Branding

• Spin offs: ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPN Classic

• Publication: ESPN, the magazine

•Web site: espn.com

•Retail outlet: ESPN, the Store

•Sport-themed restaurant: The ESPN Zone

Owned by…

• Domestic markets are saturated with media products, so companies see international growth as key

• Media conglomerates are in effective positions to compete with – and dominate – local media in other countries

• By distributing existing media products to other countries, media companies can add revenue at little cost

Growth/Expansion Globally

Globalization

One product, that is adapted to be viewed in the following countries: …

GlobalizationIndia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Japan, Brunei, South Korea,

Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Papa New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, UK, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Greece, Israel, Romania, 30 territories including: Russia, Middle East, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova.

And…Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Bolivia, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, United States (select Hispanic markets) Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Russia, many countries in Africa…and on and on and on: totaling MTV being tailored for viewing in:

164 Countries!

Cultural imperialism