Unit 1: Media Products and Audiences​

Unit 1: Media Products and Audiences​

 What is a Specialist Provider?

Specialist providers operate within specific media sectors. The main media sectors are film, television, video games, print, publishing and also the internet.​

Explain the sectors Specialist Providers work in:

Film: This sector includes companies that produce all blockbuster and small-scale film productions that you see at the cinema, on the internet and on television. For example, Warner Brothers – Harry Potter franchise ​.

Television and radio: This sector includes all companies that work to produce and distribute television and radio programmes that are broadcast across digital television and radio channels, including the internet. For example, BBC – Planet Earth​

Games: This sector includes all the games production companies, and the software and hardware development companies who produce the consoles that the games are played on. For example, Ubisoft – Assassin’s Creed​

Print and publishing: This sector includes producers and distributors of books, newspapers and magazines. For example, Conde Nast – Vogue​

Web and online technologies: This sector includes all internet- and app-based products and services that run using internet and communication technology. For example, Facebook and Instagram.​

Music: This sector includes record labels that are part of conglomerate companies. For example, Universal Music Publishing Group – Imagine Dragons catalogue.​

What is a Conglomerate:

A conglomerate is a large organisation that is made up of a number of different businesses. Many of the most well-known global companies are part of a larger media conglomerate.​

What are the top seven largest media conglomerates?

• Comcast (Universal Studios) ​
• 21st Century Fox (Fox, Sky)​
• Walt Disney Company (Marvel, ABC TV)​
• CBS (CBS Television Network, Simon & Schuster)​
• Viacom (Paramount, MTV)​
• Time Warner (Warner Bros. Studios, DC Comics)​
• Sony (Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Sony Music)​

Independent Companies:

Independent companies, such as Warp Films and Calamity Productions, operate differently to conglomerate companies.​ They work with other companies on joint venture projects. Independent companies tend to be specialist providers of just one specific type of media. The main advantage of being an independent company is that you are responsible for, and have creative control over, what you produce.​ In terms of distribution to a mass audience, an independent company may require support from larger organisations, particularly in the fields of film, music and video gaming. Independent companies will often license their films to various distribution companies who will release them on their behalf.​

Key Terms:

• Conglomerate structure – In a conglomerate, one overall parent company owns a number of smaller companies called subsidiaries. Each of a conglomerate’s subsidiary businesses runs independently but supports the wider goals and objectives of the parent company (for example, conglomerates use their subsidiaries to promote and market a media product).​
• Independent companies – Companies that are free from the control of a conglomerate. Independent companies usually specialise in producing one type of media product or service.​
• Joint venture – This is when a media company works with another company on a project that is mutually beneficial for both parties.​
• Distribution – This includes two elements: firstly, how a product or brand reaches an audience (for example, via web, cinema, television, and so on) and secondly, its marketing and promotion.​

Public service broadcaster:

 A company that delivers services beneficial to the public interest. This type of company will offer products to the audience that go beyond the purpose of entertainment, and many products are made specifically to inform, educate and widen participation.

Cross-Media:

A conglomerate that produces more than one type of media.​

Vertical integration:

This is where a media company has the ability to control the production, distribution and, in some cases, the exchange of a product. It is sometimes also known as the value chain.​

Horizontal integration:

This is when a media company utilises the assets of its subsidiary companies to support the marketing process of a major product or brand.​

Video-on-demand (VoD):

Services such as YouTube or Netflix, which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content when they choose to.​

Technological Convergence:

It is the process where new technology is moving towards single platforms (e.g. iPhone) delivering multiple media outputs that can be used to reach audiences

Companies and products by media sector:​

Media Sector, Company & Product/Brand:

• Warner Brothers - Harry Potter
• HBO - Game of thrones
• Mojang - Minecraft
• penguin books - Little Women
• Microsoft  - Teams
• apple music - apple

Unit 1 - Pride Research Activity:

Which companies were involved with the production of Pride?

The film was written by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus, however the companies that were involved within the production of the film was: BBC Films Calamity Films, British Film Institute, Canal+ Cline+, Ingenious Media Pathe. 

Which company distributed Pride to America? Are they a household name?

The film was released by CBS Films in America; in January 2015 the film received a limited release in the US on 26 September 2014, being screened in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was reported that the cover of the US DVD release of the film makes no mention of the gay content. A standard description of "a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists" was reduced to "a group of London-based activists", and a lesbian and gay banner was removed from a photograph on the back cover. 

Which company distributed Pride to Europe?

The film was released in UK cinemas of the 12 of September in 2014, it was then released in France on the 17th of September the same year. The film was distributed by Pathé in both UK and France while also still being distributed by Pathé's British partner 20th Century Fox. 

Are they linked to the distributor above?

The production was only slightly linked the Distributor above as it was a UK based company that created the film and so used a UK based Distributor, however this was linked to one American Distributer, this being 20th Century Fox. 

Why do you think working with these distributors will have been beneficial to Calamity Films?

As the distribution company was a large, popular, well known one this would have given the film kore popularity by a large company sending it out into the world. It is a rule in cinema that if a popular company  distributes a small release that it was recognised as a good film.