1. Chapter 5 THE MASS MEDIA AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA
Current Events Focus: Who Owns the Media?
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

2. Media Consolidation
As of 2004, five conglomerates control most of the radio, television, film, and publishing companies:
The Walt Disney Company
News Corporation
General Electric
Time Warner
Viacom
Consolidation of media outlets with telecom industry was justified as necessary to streamline production and dissemination of information (Internet, telephone, radio, cable)
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

3. Media Consolidation
However, one may inquire into what effects further consolidation of media outlets may have on the quantity and quality of information.
Editorial, programming, news content, and public transparency decisions reside among a few individuals and organizations.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

4. Who Owns the Media? The Walt Disney Company
Television
10 regional television stations including affiliates in New York, Chicago, and LA.
ABC Television Network including ABC Family, The Disney Channel, ESPN, The History Channel, E Entertainment, Lifetime.
Buena Vista, Touchtone, and Walt Disney Television
Publishing
Books—Hyperion, Disney Children’s Publishing)
Magazines—Disney Magazine, US Weekly (50% ownership), Video Business
Radio
Own 64 stations within the U.S.
Radio Disney
ESPN Radio
Online/Multimedia
ABC.com/Internet group
ESPN.com
NASCAR.com
Go Network
Film
Walt Disney Productions
Touchtone Pictures
Miramax
Hollywood Pictures
Buena Vista Entertainment (International)
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

5. Who Owns the Media? News Corporation
Television
36 Fox stations in major U.S. cities
Fox Television Network including FOX News, FX, SPEED Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Sports
Direct TV
Publishing
Books—Harper Morrow
Magazines—The Weekly Standard, TV Guide
Newspapers—New York Post, Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, 20 Daily Papers in Australia (Murdoch)
Radio
Classic FM
Fox Sports Radio Network
Sky Radio (England, Germany, Denmark)
Film
20th Century Fox
Blue Sky Studios
Fox Searchlight Pictures
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

6. Who Owns the Media? General Electric
Television
14 NBC stations
14 Telemundo Stations
Paxson Communications
NBC Television Network Studios
CNBC
MSNBC
Bravo
USA
A&E
History Channel
Film
Universal Pictures
Focus Features
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

7. Who Owns the Media? Time Warner
Television
Cable systems—Time Warner, Kablevision (Hungary)
Networks—CNN, HBO, TBS Superstation, Cartoon Network, Court TV, Turner Broadcasting (Movies, Classics, South, Latin)
Production companies— Warner Bros. Studios, Hanna- Barbera Cartoons
Publishing
Books—Little Brown, Time Inc., Warner Books
Online/Multimedia
AOL
MapQuest
Netscape Communications
CompuServe Interactive Services
Film
Warner Bros.
Castle Rock
Turner Original Productions
New Line Cinema
Warner Brothers International Theaters
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

8. Who Owns the Media? Viacom
Television
17 CBS stations
18 UPN Stations
5 Independents
Publishing
Simon and Schuster
Radio
Infinity Broadcasting
Westwood One
TDI Worldwide
Film
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Home Entertainment
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

9. Conclusion
While the old media has become more consolidated, the increased use of the new media (i.e., Internet and satellite systems) has increased the dissemination of information in both content and speed.
Consequently, rules and regulations have lagged far beyond advances in information technology which has prompted a call for greater regulation.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

10. Conclusion
Yet, others believe the Internet provides a check on the consolidation and uniformity of the old media.
Is government regulation of these new technologies even feasible?
© 2011 Taylor & Francis