1. Media Ownership in Contemporary Media Practice
The Issues Raised by
Media Ownership in Contemporary Media Practice

2. KEY TERMS
Majors
Mini Majors
Media Conglomerate
Subsidiaries
Vertical Integration
Horizontal Integration
Definition:
How the ownership of the production, distribution and exhibition companies affects the type of films that are made.
Issues: Production/Distribution/Marketing/Exchange
raised by
Media Ownership: Majors/Independents
in Contemporary Media Practice: Film/Warner Bros

3. TASK:
On your tables, brainstorm as many film companies as you can think of (both major and independent)

4. Film: Media Ownership In you exam, you will need to discuss:
Mainstream Hollywood Cinema (Majors)
How their ownership affects the way they produce, distribute, market and exhibit their films.
Independent Cinema (Indies)
Media Ownership, within the film industry, refers to how GREATER FINANCES can enhance the different levels of an institutions construction & selling of a film.

5. Film: The Majors A major film studio refers to:
A movie production and distribution company that releases a substantial number of films annually.
A company that consistently commands a significant share of box-office revenues in a given market.
In the Western market, there are six film studios that make up 90% of the US box office revenue. They are known as ‘The Majors’ or ‘The Big Six’.
The "Big Six” operate in & around Hollywood, & are centered in Film Studios that were active in Hollywood's 1930’s & 40’s Golden Age of cinema.

6. Today’s ‘Big Six’ Majors
TASK:
Today’s ‘Big Six’ Majors ? ? ? ? ? ?
Question: Name all six film studios in Hollywood known as ‘The Majors’?

7. 1 2 3 4 5 6

8. Film:
Mini Majors
Aside from The Majors’, there are also a set of independent producers/distributors who perform very well financially in the film industry, they are often referred to as ‘Mini Majors’.

10. The History of The Walt Disney Company
TASK:
The History of The Walt Disney Company
VIDEO QUESTION:
Discuss the growth of Walt Disney and how it may benefit a Disney films release?

11. Film: Media Conglomerate
These Major studios come under six diversified media conglomerates whose various movie production & distribution subsidiaries command the Hollywood market.
A conglomerate is a large company that consists of divisions of seemingly unrelated businesses. It will be involved in a diversity of other businesses aside from the film industry.
A media conglomerate describes companies that own large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet.

12. Film: Subsidiary Companies
In order to cash in on the present day boom in independent film, the big six also include:
Formerly independent companies that have been acquired & brought in under the corporate umbrella.
Created independent companies, that have been designed to develop less commercial, character driven films appealing to the Art House market.
The ‘Majors’ are primarily backers & distributors of films. They mainly focus on development & finance. Actual production is largely handled by these independent companies. For example:
Warner Bros & New Line Cinema - Paramount & Paramount Vantage - Disney & Pixar - Universal & Working Title .

13. The Walt Disney Company Distribution
TASK:
The Walt Disney Company Distribution
VIDEO QUESTION:
How does Disney use their many different outlets to help a film be released/advertised?

14. Publishing + Parks & Resorts
TASK:
FILM
TV/Radio
Publishing + Parks & Resorts
Consumer Product
TABLE 2
TABLE 1
TABLE 4
TABLE 3

15. Catch Up Questions
Name the ‘BIG SIX’?

16. What is a Media CONGLOMERATE?
Catch Up Questions
What is a Media CONGLOMERATE?

17. Who is Disney's CONGLOMERATE?
Catch Up Questions
Who is Disney's CONGLOMERATE?

18. What are SUBSIDIARY companies?
Catch Up Questions
What are SUBSIDIARY companies?

19. Name some of Disney’s SUBSIDIARY companies?
Catch Up Questions
Name some of Disney’s SUBSIDIARY companies?

20. TASK:
CREATE YOUR OWN WALT DISNEY COMPANY CONGLOMERATE STRUCTURE (COVER ALL BUSINESS)

23. Horizontal & Vertical Integration
Film:
Horizontal & Vertical Integration
Often a single parent company will own multiple companies in the film industry.
HORIZONTAL
The parent company owns multiple subsidiary companies at the same stage of the film industry.
VERTICAL
The parent company owns multiple subsidiary companies across different stages of the film industry.
Question: What are the advantages for a parent company of each type of ownership?
PRODUCTION
MARKETING
MARKETING
MARKETING
For example The Walt Disney
Company owns:
Marvel Studios Productions (Production)
Walt Disney (Distribution)
Disney Land Park resorts, Disney Publishing, Disney Home Entertainment
DISTRIBUTION
EXHIBITION

24. Warner Bros. Pictures is the number 1 biggest player in the film industry. Securing the rights to major films like:
Harry Potter
Superman
Batman
The Matrix
Star Wars
Conglomerate:
Time Warner
Parent Division:
Warner Bros: Entertainment Group, HBO
Major Studio Subsidiary:
Warner Bros: Pictures
Other Mainstream/Art House Subsidiaries:
New Line Cinema, HBO Films,
Castle Rock Entertainment, Warner Bros: Animation

25. Mission Impossible Series
Paramount Pictures continues to be one of the most successful film production companies in the world. Securing the rights to major films like:
Star Trek
War of the Worlds
Mission Impossible Series
Transformers
Tropic Thunder
Conglomerate:
Viacom
Parent Division:
Paramount Motion Pictures Group
Major Studio Subsidiary:
Paramount Pictures
Other Mainstream/Art House
Subsidiaries:
Nickelodeon Movies, MTV Films,
Paramount Vantage

26. Columbia Pictures remains a big player in the business
Columbia Pictures remains a big player in the business. Some of this company's recent successes include:
James Bond Series
The Da Vinci Code
21 Jump Street
Conglomerate:
Sony
Parent Division:
Sony Pictures
Major Studio Subsidiary:
Columbia Pictures
Other Mainstream/Art House
Subsidiaries:
Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Classics

27. The American Pie Series
Universal Studios know what it takes to make money in this industry, and this is demonstrated through major hits like:
The Bourne Series
The American Pie Series
Knocked Up
American Gangster
Conglomerate:
General Electric/Vivendi
Parent Division:
NBC Universal
Major Studio Subsidiary:
Universal Studios
Other Mainstream/Art House
Subsidiaries:
Universal Animation Studios, Focus
Features, Working Title

28. Star Wars Episodes II & III,
Some of the biggest and most successful movies from Rupert Murdoch’s empire include:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Star Wars Episodes II & III,
Taken Series
Planet of the Apes
Conglomerate:
News Corporation
Parent Division:
Fox Filmed Entertainment
Major Studio Subsidiary:
20th Century Fox
Other Mainstream/Art House
Subsidiaries:
20th Century Fox Animation, New
Regency, Fox Searchlight

29. TASK:
In groups note down the advantages and disadvantages of Avengers Assemble/Attack the Block being produced/not produced by a media conglomerate, such as Disney
TABLES 3 + 4
TABLES 1 + 2

30. Individually, answer the following past exam question supplied by OCR
TASK:
Individually, answer the following past exam question supplied by OCR
“Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production & exchange of media texts in your chosen media area”.

31. Film: Overview KEY POINTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER:
The film industry is dominated by major Hollywood studios. These Majors are hugely financially successful & have millions to spend on their movies (Budget). Something independent institutions do not have.
Major studios own companies (Subsidiaries) that cover all aspects of the filmmaking process. They can therefore spend a large amount of money not only on production, but also the distribution & marketing of a film.
These giant institutions are able to use their size and ownership of a wide range of media to cross promote their films (& other media) across their wide media empires. The synergies of cross-promoting that can be created by these media organisations is astonishing.
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER:
What is the affect of media ownership on the British film industry, Independent filmmakers & of course the Major Film Studios?
How can indies survive in the British market
against the high concept, big-budget films?
What kinds of niche audiences are left for indies to attract?
Are mass audiences out of reach for indies, given their genres & budgets?
How successful have indies been in reaching mass audiences with their films?
How healthy is it that just a few mega media groups can own such a range of media?