Unit 1: Ownership Models and Media Institutions

Conglomerate Structure - A large organisation made up of a number of businesses called subsidiary broadcasters. These run independently but support the wider goals and objectives of the parent company. Some example of the largest media conglomerates as of 2014 were Comcast, Universal studio, 21st Century Fox, Fox, Sky and Walt Disney Company, Marvel, ABC TV.

Independent companies - Work with other companies on joint venture projects and are usually specialist providers of one specific type of media. The main advantage of independent companies are that they have full responsibility and creative control over what's produced. However, they may require support from larger organisations for distribution in a mass audience and license their films for distribution companies to release the film on their behalf.

Joint Venture - The act of two or more companies cooperating for the purpose of a specific project or task. Each company would bring useful resources and experience and is responsible for profits, losses and costs related the project.

Distribution - How a company reaches, through cinemas or online film websites such as Netflix, their audience and promotes their product in order to appeal to their target market.


Companies and products by media sector:

Conglomerate companies:

Media Sector	Company	Product/Brand
Film	Warner Brothers	Harry Potter
TV and Radio	20th Century Fox Television	How I Met Your Mother
Video Games	Microsoft Studio	Minecraft
Print and Publishing	Advance Publications	Vogue
Web and Online Technology	Facebook Inc	Instagram
Music	Universal Music Group	Ariana Grande

Independent companies:

Media Sector	Company	Product/Brand
Film	HeyDay Films	Harry Potter
TV and Radio	Bays and Thomas Production	How i Met your Mother
Video Games	Mojang	Minecraft
Print and Publishing	Conde Nast	Vogue
Web and Online Technology	Oath Inc	Tumblr
Music	Republic	Ariana Grande

Crazy Stupid Love:

Carasol Productions - Independent Company

Distributed by Warner Brothers

It made $142,851,197

The help of this conglomerate company distributing on behalf of Carasol Productions, an independent company, likely has a direct link to the success of the film as it is a huge, well established company. 

Titanic:

Produced buy 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Lightstorm Entertainment

Distributed by 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Lightstorm Entertainment

It made $2,186,772,302

Produced and distributed by big Conglomerate companies who sent the films and advertised in the USA and Europe. These companies had so much media power that they didn't need a separate distributer to ensure the success of the film.

Public Service Broadcaster- A company that is funded by the public through TV licences. This means everyone can view the programmes on this Broadcaster, e.g BBC, and in return, BBC broadcasts a wide variety of shows ensuring at least one of them will appeal to everybody.

Cross Media- A company that produces more than one type of media. When a media institution owns two or more companes that specialise indifferent media sectors. Harryu Potter novels adapted into films by Warner Brothers

Vertical Integration (Value Chain) - Where a media company has the ability to control the production, distribution and, in some cases, exchange of a product.

Horizontal Integration- Where a media company utilizes the assets of its subsidiary companies to support the marketing process of a major product or brand.Part of being a horizontally integrated company means that the opportunities for synergy are maximized. 21st century fox works with News Corporation so films are advertised during commercials on FoxTV

Video-on-demand (VoD)-services such as Youtube or Netflix, which allow users to select and watch?listen yo video or audio content when they choose to.

Technological Convergence - the process were new technology is moving towards single platforms (e.g iPhone) delivering multiple media outputs that can be used to reach audiences.

Synergy - The increased efficiency and income that happens as a result of vertical and horizontal integration. Conglomerate are formed to create synergy in order to cross promote. e.g Disney; Avengers