Big Media

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by Matthew Cohn

In today’s media marketplace, the industry is dominated by enormous companies whose assets include most of the nation’s leading television and radio stations, all of the largest broadcast and cable networks, and many of the largest studios and production companies. Some of these big media companies have been around since before television, and all have grown through acquisitions. These companies that are considered “Big Media” own and operate many smaller companies, which are all independently managed. It is likely that most of the consumers these companies target don’t even know who owns what or how big these companies truly are.

What is Big Media?

The term “Big Media” is used to describe the media industry, which is dominated by “Big Media” companies. All of the major companies prospered through acquisitions, otherwise known as conglomeration. A media conglomerate owns companies in various mass media such as TV, Film, Radio, Publishing, and Internet. It has become necessary for the largest media companies to own a major asset associated with every aspect of the media business. A fully integrated media conglomerate would likely include at least one motion picture and television production studio, one or more cable or broadcast networks (for distribution), a combination of print and web assets (for promotion), and a range of local media, including television stations, radio stations, newspapers, and other related assets. Of course, large media companies routinely do business with one another, but by doing business within the same conglomerate, it creates a synergy that increases the amount of revenue. A TV series can be produced, distributed, and syndicated all under the same corporate umbrella. Vertical Integration and Synergy are two common terms associated with big media, both pretty much summing up the way a company can “vertically integrate” its product across different platforms to create a “synergy” within a company.

Rules Governing Big Media

Large media companies are controlled similar to other large U.S. corporations. In regard to content and advertising, some of these regulations are based upon law and others are general guidelines self-imposed and self-regulated by each media industry. For a complete list of Broadcast Ownership Rules, click here

Financial Interest and Syndication Rules, otherwise known as Fin-Syn rules, were rules put into effect by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in 1970. Basically, the FCC thought the big media companies had too much control over the television industry, thus creating unfair competition in the market. For example, a network could only broadcast shows created by its own studio, even if there were better options in the marketplace. At the time, there were only three broadcast networks and the FCC didn’ t want them to monopolize the market. Under the Fin-Syn rules, none of the networks could broadcast any prime-time programming in which they had a financial stake or interest in. Thus, many of the big media companies were forced to sell or let go of their production studios. In 1993, the Fin-Syn rules were abolished, which led to where we are today. For more on the Fin-Syn history, click here

The Big Media Companies

The largest media companies today are known as “The Big 6.” All have major assets in the TV, Film, Internet, and Publishing industries.

  • Disney (ABC)
  • Comcast (NBC)
  • News Corporation (FOX)
  • CBS (CBS)
  • Time Warner (CNN, HBO)
  • Viacom (MTV, Comedy Central)

Disney

The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923 and is one of the most well-rounded entertainment companies in the world. The four major components are their media networks, studios, consumer products, and amusement parks.

Media Networks

Thanks to the elimination of the Fin-Syn rules, Disney took ownership of ABC Television Network in 1995. Included in ABC’s network is ABC Studios, as well as ESPN and its many sister networks. Other channels include ABC Family, Disney Channel, History Channel, and more.

Radio

Disney owns a majority ownership stake in Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, owner of 277 radio stations in the US.

Publishing

Disney operates book publishing, magazine publishing, music recording, and even Marvel Comics.

Film

Disney is most known for its film business. Most famous is Walt Disney Pictures which is home to its animation studio. Also, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films, Pixar Animation Studios, and more.

Other

Disney owns theme parks worldwide and even a cruise line. Disney success early on can be credited to its Consumer Products business, especially Mickey Mouse. Disney still is one of the most powerful consumer product companies in the world.

For a complete list of Disney’s holdings, click here
For more on Disney’s Company Overview, click here
For more on Disney’s History, click here

Comcast


Comcast’s power base comes from its near monopoly on cable service to nearly a third of all U.S. households. Although always a major player, Comcast was not really considered a “Big” until its take over of a majority share of NBC-Universal from General Electric. Comcast owns 51% of NBCU, GE owns 49%. General Electric has long been considered a “Big,” but their main business operations are not in the media industry, especially since Comcast’s acquisition of majority share. Comcast is one of the largest cable and internet service providers, and combining them with one of the biggest producers of TV and movies makes them one of the most powerful corporations in the industry.

For more on the Comcast/NBCU Transaction, click here

Television

Comcast owns NBC Network, including all of its local stations, Telemundo, CNBC, as well as multiple sports networks under the Comcast Sports Net name. Comcast is also one of the largest cable providers in the US.

Internet

Comcast is one of the nation’s largest Internet Service Providers.

Film

Comcast owns Universal Pictures, Focus Pictures, Rogue Pictures, as well as Universal Studios Home Entertainment, a distribution unit.

Sports

Comcast is very unique compared with the other members of the Big 6. Comcast, whose headquarters are in Philadelphia, PA, owns both the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), and the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL). Comcast also owns the Wachovia Center, where the teams play.

For a complete list of Comcast’s holdings, click here

For more on Comcast’s company overview, click here

News Corporation

Under Rupert Murdoch’s leadership, News Corporation has become one of the most powerful companies in the TV and Film industries.

Television

News Corp. owns FOX as well as 16 owned and operated Fox Regional Sports Networks. Also, Fox News and National Geographic Channel. Production companies include 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Television Studios.

Film

News Corp. owns 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and Searchlight Pictures.

Publishing

News Corp. owns HarperCollins Publishers, as well as more than 150 newspapers and numerous magazines.

Online

Online properties include FoxSports.com, Foxnews.com, Simplyhired.com, and more

Sports

News Corp also owns the National Rugby League.

For a complete list of News Corporations holdings, click here

For more on News Corporations company overview, click here

Time Warner

Time Warner Inc. is one of the most diversified Big Media companies, with holdings that include Time Inc., HBO, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Time Warner owns some of the strongest cable networks including CNN, TNT, TBS, and more. Time Warner also owns 50% of the CW Network (CBS owns the other half).

Television

Time Warner has built its company off being an early innovator in cable TV. Time Warner owns some of the most valuable cable channels today, including HBO, Cinemax, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, as well as all of CNN’s international programming. Also, Time Warner owns Warner Bros. Television group, one of the best production companies in the TV industry today.

Film

Time Warner owns some of the best production companies, including Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Castle Rock, and more.

Internet

Along with the digital properties of CNN.com, CartoonNetwork.com, and other cable channels’ websites, Time Warner owns America Online and all of AOL’s properties.

Publishing

Time Warner is arguably the strongest of the Big 6 when it comes to publishing. Its properties include Time Inc, Time Warner Book Group, DC Comics, People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and more.

For more on Time Warner Inc., click here

For a complete list of Time Warner Inc., holdings, click here

Viacom


Viacom’s history is unique in that it was created out of the original Fin-Syn rules in 1971, when CBS was forced to leave the program syndication business and let go of ownership of Viacom. Viacom became so big that in 2000 they merged with CBS, only to split again in 2005, leaving Viacom and CBS Corp. as two separate companies. Viacom’s power is built around is TV and film assets.

Television

Viacom television properties include some of the strongest channels including MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon, VH1, and Spike.

Film

Viacom owns Paramount Pictures, which includes Dreamworks and MTV Films.

For more on Viacom, click here

For more on Viacom’s history, click here

For a complete list of Viacom’s holdings, click here

CBS

CBS is one of the oldest networks, as its roots trace back to 1928 when it was a collection of 16 radio stations, and then one of the first television broadcast networks. CBS is the number one broadcast network in the country, and has strong international distribution.

Television

CBS is the number one rated network in America, with top shows such as Survivor, CSI, and Two and a Half Men, all of which sell internationally. CBS also owns Showtime, one of the top pay cable networks. CBS also owns 50% of the CW Network (Time Warner owns the other half).

Radio

CBS still is active in its original business, radio, and owns 130 stations in 29 different markets.

Publishing

CBS owns Simon & Schuster, one of the largest book publishing companies.

Online

CBS’ online properties are very strong, especially CBSSports.com, CBSnews.com, and Sho.com.

For more on CBS, click here

For a complete list of CBS properties, click here

*It is worth noting that National Amusements has a controlling interest in both CBS and Viacom, but both operate individually.

The Next Level Down

After the Big 6, there are other large media companies, but none are nearly as diversified as the Big 6 companies.

Some worth noting, and their core business:

Cable

Cox Enterprises

Cablevision

Publishing

The New York Times Company

The Washington Post Company

Hearst Corporation

Telecommunications

Verizon

AT&T

Radio

Clear Channel Communications

For a complete list of all major media companies, click here
For a smaller list of ownership in the media industry, click here

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    It tells a story of how these “agents” are trying to turn us into machines. We are closer then ever before for this to become a reality when they cause us to receive an implantable microchip in our body during a time when physical money will be no more.

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    …Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666″ (Revelation 13:16-18 NKJV).

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    Barack, also transliterated as Baraq, in Hebrew is: lightning

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    bamah – Biblical definition:

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