Media conglomerate research
1)What did you find out about your allocated media conglomerate?
Selection of company : The Walt Disney Company
Vertical and horizontal integration:
What examples can you find of vertical or horizontal integration for this conglomerate? Remember, for vertical integration you are looking for companies linked through the chain of production.
-Vertical integration :
-Disney owns Hulu and Disney
-Disney offers theme parks like Disney world
-Disney owns marvel
-Horizontal integration:
-Disney and Pixar merge is a perfect example of horizontal integration. Disney purchased Pixar back in 2006.
-Convergence and synergy:
-Find a media product or brand associated with your conglomerate. How has technology changed the way audiences access that product? What examples of synergy can you find in the promotion or distribution of the media product?
-Disney advertising their products on Disney channel and a way for Disney to sell their product is using their Disney stores.
-Disney owns Pixar, the company that produced all 3 Toy Story films. Disney also owns the TV network ABC, in which Dancing With The Stars airs. They used DWTS to promote the film.
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.
-Yes, this is because smaller, less known and independent companies will not have an actual chance against major conglomerates.
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:
Thinking and Planning: They come up with ideas and plan how to make movies, shows, or music. Getting Ready: They organize things, pick actors, and set up the technical stuff. Filming or Recording: The actual shooting or recording happens, and then they edit and add effects.
-Promotions:
- Spread the Word: They create a plan to tell people about what they made. Ads and Marketing: They make ads and use TV, social media, and more to get people interested.
- Make People Excited: Events, interviews, and other stuff to build up excitement.
-Distributions:- Decide Where to Show: They pick where their movies or shows will be available, like in theatres or online. Decide When and How: Figuring out the best time and way to release their stuff.
- Make Deals: Talking to others to make sure you can watch it. Online Stuff: For things on the internet, they put it on different websites for you to watch.
So, they make things, tell everyone about it, and then make sure you can watch it.
2) What are the different funding models for media institutions?
-Ads: They make money by showing ads to audiences.
-Subscriptions:
- How it Works: They charge audiences to watch or read their stuff.
-Government or Grants:
- How it Works: Sometimes, the government or groups give them money.
-Donations and Selling Stuff:
- How it Works: They get money from people or sell things like shirts or DVDs.
-Sharing or Selling Content:
- How it Works: They sell or share what they made with other places.
-Free and Pay Options:
- How it Works: Some things are free, but if audiences want more, they pay.
-Sponsorships and Events:
- How it Works: Companies give them money to talk about them, or they make money from events.
Media companies use these different ways to get money and keep making things for you to watch or read.
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 ITV relies on money from advertisements, the BBC is funded by a license, and Sky One receives income form subscriptions.
4) What examples are provided of the new business models media companies have had to adopt due to changes in technology and distribution?
-Film studios have developed new tech to draw audiences back into cinema- ‘Percepto!’ (a device to deliver strategically placed electric shocks to seats in cinemas). The development of VHS made access to Hollywood and cinema easier film studios invested in multiplex cinemas which provided more choice, and more glamour and luxury for cinemagoers.
5) Re-read the section on 'The Future'. What examples are discussed of technology companies becoming major media institutions?
-Google owns YouTube now, and they have changes how we listen to music and how we access videos. Some example of media institutions are; google, Facebook and Amazon.
6) Do you agree with the view that traditional media institutions are struggling to survive?
-Yes because, there is new tech that they need to keep up to date with so that they are survive.
7) How might diversification or vertical integration help companies to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing media landscape?
-To differentiate in the market and attract new potential customers.
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 institutions will gain power in the future however, audience may hold even more power then them. Audiences will voice their opinions more and influence people more.
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