Thursday, 24 November 2016

Disney as a conglomerate

Disney is a conglomerate

media conglomeratemedia group or media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet. Media conglomerates strive for policies that facilitate their control of the markets across the globe.

Disney owns
  • Walt Disney Studios
  • Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  • Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group:
  • Touchstone Pictures
  • Pixar Animation Studios
  • Lucasfilm
  • ESPN
  • ABC Entertainment Group
  • Marvel Entertainment
  • Disney Music Group

The media industry is dominated by 'The Big Six'



Just how dominant are 'The Big Six' studios?


How many independent films can you spot?


Why might conglomerates be seen as a negative?

Global conglomerates can at times have a progressive impact on culture, especially when they enter nations that had been tightly controlled by corrupt crony media systems (as in much of Latin America) or nations that had significant state censorship over media (as in parts of Asia). The global commercial-media system is radical in that it will respect no tradition or custom, on balance, if it stands in the way of profits. But ultimately it is politically conservative, because the media giants are significant beneficiaries of the current social structure around the world, and any upheaval in property or social relations—particularly to the extent that it reduces the power of business—is not in their interest.— 

Robert W. McChesney, The New Global Media; It’s a Small World of Big Conglomerates, The Nation Magazine, November 29, 1999.

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Piracy

Piracy has become more of a problem in the past decade than it ever has before, specifically movie piracy. In fact, a study from Columbia University came out recently that said at least 45% of US citizens pirate movies actively, but that number bumps up to 70% if you include the younger demographics as well (Mick, 2). This act of pirating is growing more and more common every year and most people do it mindlessly, not realizing what it costs. Everyone has seen the text at the beginning of movies saying “Piracy is not a victimless crime,” and this is completely true. Piracy is extremely harmful to the movie industry and its effects are larger than anyone could imagine.


More on Piracy below.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/17/digital-piracy-film-online-counterfeit-dvds