Industries: Ownership and control

 Industries: recap


Industries are the producers, the companies that produce (make) and distribute the media product. 

Industries have a strong interest in who their target audience is so that they can best appeal to them. 

Some companies dominate the industry which means they own more of the content and therefore make more money (revenue).


Vertical integration

Vertical integration is when one conglomerate owns different companies in the same chain of production.

For example, Disney owns film studios, CGI specialists, film distributors, TV channels (such as the Disney Channel) and streaming service Disney+. This gives Disney the chance to make money at every stage of production and distribution. Complete ownership = more profit and control.


Horizontal integration

Horizontal integration is when one company buys other companies at the same level of distribution.

For example, Facebook acquired Instagram (at a cost of $1 billion) so that they could cancel out the competition by making money from both. 

Horizontal integration allows companies to widen their audience and find other ways to make money.


Synergy

Synergy is when a company creates a brand that can be used across different media products and platforms. For example, Disney makes movies but then also has related stage shows, theme parks, merchandise, soundtracks and events all linked to the same brand or characters.


Convergence

Technological convergence refers to the fact we can now access all different types of media on one device.

The growth of smartphones has completely changed the relationship between industries and audiences. 

Traditional industries like newspapers are now moving into video or online content and audiences can now create their own user-generated content.



Industries: Ownership and control - blog tasks

Create a new blogpost called Industries: Ownership and Control. Complete the following tasks and reading exercises:  

1) What is a conglomerate in the media industries? 
A large organisation which owns multiple different types of media companies.

2) What is a subsidiary?
A smaller company which is controlled by a holding company.

3) What are the benefits for media companies of vertical integration?
It provides the company the opportunity to profit off of everything they provide, giving them full ownership and control.

4) What are the benefits for media companies of horizontal integration?
It helps eliminate competition as they profit from other companies which are rivalling their distribution.

5) Give three examples of media companies or brands that have used synergy to maximise their profits. There are examples in the notes above to help you.
Amazon, Disney and Nintendo.

6) What is convergence and what device has changed the relationship between audiences and producers? 
Convergence is the fact we have access to all different types of media through one device, which is a iPhone.

Now read this article about Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram and answer the following questions:

7) Why did Facebook buy Instagram for $1bn? Answer in as much detail as possible
Facebook bought Instagram to eliminate competition and to profit off of both companies using Horizontal Integration


8) What is the name of the media billionaire who used to own Fox? 
Rupert Murdoch

9) List 10 companies that are part of the Disney media empire. The graphic below will help you. 
10) Why did Disney buy Fox - what are the benefits? These benefits are particularly discussed towards the end of the article. 
Disney is heavily investing in online streaming platforms as a means of countering the downturn in its pay-TV business and threats for new arising rivals.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mise-en-scene: Stranger Things analysis

Image
Mise-en-scene is a vital aspect of media language and builds nicely on our work on denotation and connotation. Mise-en-scène is a French term meaning ‘Putting on Stage’.  It refers to the Media language used by the producer in their media product to communicate with their audience so…everything we see on screen. We can remember what this includes using the acronym CLAMPS: Costume Lighting Actor placement and movement Make-up Props Setting When we look at a clip, image or advert in Media Studies we need to be able to identify aspects of  mise-en-scene  and explain the effect it has on the audience.   Choose  THREE  aspects of mise-en-scene (e.g. costume, lighting and setting) and write a short paragraph for  each  about the  denotation  and  connotation  and what is communicated to the audience. Lighting: In the beginning the scene starts outside, at night, only being illuminated by sparse synthetic lighting. This becomes a runn...
Read more

Denotation & Connotation blog tasks: advert analysis

Image
    Denotation & Connotation blog tasks: advert analysis Create a  new  blogpost in your GCSE Media blog called ' Denotation and connotation '. 1) Write an analysis of the  WaterAid advert above  using denotation, connotation and analysis. What can you see? What are the deeper meanings in the advert? What does the advert communicate to the audience? How might an audience react after seeing the advert? 2) Now choose your  own choice of advert  from Google images. Save it to your documents, insert it into your blogpost and write an analysis using denotation and connotation, explaining what the advert is communicating to the audience. Extension: Print advert research Read  this design blog on some of the best print adverts of all time . Choose one advert that you feel is particularly powerful in terms of its use of connotations and analyse why it is so successful Denotation: -Slogan "Dig Toilets, Not Graves"(Verbal code) -Boy with solemn exp...
Read more

Introduction to Media: Blog index

  Introduction to Media - index so far We now need to create an  index  of all our blogposts so far.  This process is an excellent start to our ongoing revision and will also highlight if you've missed anything through absence. Your index should include the following: 1) First blog task - 10 questions 2) Denotation and Connotation 3) Introduction to Photoshop: fruit bowls 4) Mise-en-scene: Stranger Things 5) Camerawork: shots and angles 6) Camera movement and editing 7) Blog feedback and learner response
Read more