2. Corporate Ownership of Media

3. Media Monopolies z50 corporations owned more than half of all media businesses in 1982 zBy 1993, it was 20 zNow it’s 6

4. zGeneral Electric (NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Bravo +) zNews Corp (Fox, Fox Searchlight, newspapers, Wall St. Journal+) zViacom (Paramount, BET, MTV, CBS, Noggin, Spike, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon +) zSony (BMG, film studios, electronics, European media+) zTime Warner (Warner Bros., CNN, People, AOL, CW, Braves, CNN, publishing. cable+) zDisney (ABC, Touchstone, ESPN, radio, music, publishing+)

5. zCorporations own a variety of media outlets zTV, radio, movies, books, magazines newspapers, Internet

6. Who owns what? http://www.cjr.org/owners/

7. Synergy zHorizontal integration (monopoly) zCorporations cross-promote products zGMA at Disney World (news?) zLeno favors NBC guests zTime magazine features Benjamin Franklin zLocal news promotes network shows

8. Conflicts of Interest? zGeneral Electric owns NBC zWhat does GE produce? zDisney owns ABC zHow does ABC cover Disney? zHow does Time-Warner cover its many interests?

9. Average American heard 42 mentions by time film opened Batman Synergy

10. Divine secrets of Ya Ya synergy z2002 Time-Warner-AOL film Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood zLocation of plot-driving interview changed from New York Times to Time magazine

12. zHBO showed 28 Days almost daily zSometimes followed by HBO Behind the Scenes: The Ya Ya Sisterhood

13. BUT... zTime magazine gave the film a mediocre review zMedia synergy doesn't influence all content zNot yet...

14. Gov controls on media zAirwaves belong to the public zRadio/TV used to be bound by "public service" requirements z1996 Telecom Act Reduced limits on media consolidation zPromised more choice, lower prices

15. June 2, 2003 FCC Regulations Relaxed zNewspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership zNational Broadcast Ownership Cap zLocal Radio Ownership Rule. Duopoly Rule Maintained zDual Network Rule

16. Critics of consolidation zMergers limit number of independent voices in media zLimits free exchange of ideas zFacilitates censorship zProfit imperative, rather than quality, determines programming

17. zCorporations control culture industries zThis “drags standards down” zLeads to more “trash”

18. Robert McChesney zMonopolies non-competitive zThey “hypercommercialize content without fear of competitive retribution” zRadio = 18 min. ads per hour zAdvertising “leverage” squeezes our smaller outlets

19. zClear Channel “no play” list after 9/11 zSinclair Broadcasting yRefused to run Nightline episode yPlanned to run Anti-Kerry film zControl of numerous outlets leads to greater public impact

20. Censorship zRupert Murdoch's (News Corp.) HarperCollins cancelled publication of book by former British Gov. of Hong Kong zSelf-censorship an even greater concern