Mega Media

Vertical Integration

A situtation when two firms in the same industry but at different stages of production come together.

Production Company --> Marketing Company --> Distribution Company --> ExhibitionCompany

When a parent company owns lots of companies at different stages of production. Horizontal Intergration is where parent companies own smaller companies at the same stage of production.


News Corporation:

20th Century Fox - Fox Searchlight - Blue Sky
The Sun - News of the World - Myspace
Sky - ITV - FOX


KEY WORDS

Parent Company - A large company that can absorb other small companies to expand its empire

Subsidiary Company - A small company which is owned by another large company

Conglomerate - A group of comapnies owned by one large company which may have a diverse variety of media interests

Veritical Integration - A conglomerate owning more than one step in the supply process or value chain

Horizontal Integration - A number of companies in the same stage of the production process owned by one conglomerate.

Warner Bros Convergence

How has Warner Bros converged to increase revenue?

Warner Bros are primarily a film studio based in Los Angeles, California. They make a variety of films across many genres. But as TV rose in popularity, WB knew it was time to expand into this new industry. For a brief period, WB switched their focus to TV, instead of cinema. Before eventually expanding fully into both. Famous TV iterations include the Looney Tunes and 77 Sunset Strip. A way in which Warner Bros converged these medias was through actors, using certain people in cinema and TV productions. This helped the search for cast members more efficient, and allowed productions to go ahead quicker, and in the long run probably increased the amount of released products, bringing in revenue.

Warner Bros Records is another big convergence that helps Warner Bros create more money. Firstly, they can make their own music for their productions, so do not have to pay any other companies, sort of making Warner Bros more self sufficient. Furthermore they can sell the music as standalone tracks or albums featuring music from their film and TV products.


What other products has Warner Bros offered?

Warner Bros also create alot of merchandise, such as action figures and other toys, all based on their own licenses and productions. This obviously generates more money, and at the same time, awareness for their products. The selling of DVDs and Blu-Rays also helps.

Other things worthy of note...

Because of their size and wealth, another thing that Warner Bros studios can do is buy smaller companies in a big eats small buisness world. This allows them to expand into more sorts of media, and expand their business empire. For example the purchase of Rocksteady Gaming.

FOR APPLE BLOG - SEE TV DRAMA

See TV drama blog for apple post

Modern Phone Features

Mobile phones are better than ever, and are an important part of modern life. They have many features:

Email
Weather
Stock Market
Calls
Texts

Voicemail

Internet

Apps

Facetime

Music MP3

Video MP 4

Photos/Camera

Torch

Voice/Sound Recording

Possibly Touch Screen

Sat Nav

WiFi

Films

Calendarr

Calculator
Instant Messages (BBM, iMesage)
Compass
Booking tickets
Newspapers/Magazines
TV Remote
Set Sky to record
Scan phone instead of card
Barcode Scanner
Translator

Meida Convergence

Media Convergence is where different areas of media come together to create a product. It essentially where different types of media mix together, contributing to a shared goal.

For example, the film industry and the audio recording industry converge often, as films require audio and soundtracks, something which audio recording facilities are essential for. This helps improve the film, as music is a very powerful force in motion pictures. Another good example is how printed media converges with the Internet. Newspapers all have online versions available, as more and more people are beginning to prefer getting their news free online rather than paying for a paper.

Most, if not all media can now be accessed on the internet now, which is a sign of how powerful the internet is a media tool. Films, music, magazines, TV, radio; its all online now. This is an example of mass media convergence, as everyone is using the internet to help improve their product, or help expand its availability to people, maximising revenue. Media convergence is a powerful thing, and without it, media in general would suffer.

This Is England

This is England audience attendence

The film suffered from the moment it was released, when it was given an 18 certificate. The director was appauled, claiming his target audience of fiteen/sixteen year olds would now be unable to see the film he had made for them. This may have resulted in far less views, and therefore far less revenue, than if it had been given the expected 15 certificate.

The release date of March had mixed effects.
Firstly, it was beneficial when you look at the fact that it avoided much of the large competion, releasing in one of the quieter months. However, that month is quiet for a reason, and thats because not as many people visit the cinema in March as, say, the summer months, when they are on holiday.

Releasing in the digital format was actually essential to release, so of course was positive on the film. There are better formats out there, but digital does the job, and is seen as modern.

Hordes of positive reviews may also have helped reel in some more audience, or perhaps initiate DVD perchases.

To conclude, the various aspect of release in some ways hindered This is England and did not allow it to full its potential. It is almost an unsung hero of the film world.

What makes a British film British?

British Films.
If it is to be a film funded by the Britain, chances are it will be low budget, quite unsuccessful, and totally over shadowed by he monsters of the industry, mainly the big shots from U.S. But there are some good British funded, British made and British acted films. Guy Ritchie. Vinnie Jones, Ray Winstone, Gary Oldman, Jason Statham, those are some of the names that have given the more successful British films a name.

The other type of British film are those funded outside of Britain, but with British directors. Ridley Scott, for example, has a host of major films to his name, from Alien to Gladiator. But although these films have many British people in the making of them, I wouldnt call them British, because they are not exclusive. Many British funded films never seem to take themselves seriously, they know they cant compete with the big blockbusters, so they carve their own niche, and when it comes to Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Shaun of the Dead, and other similaur films, this is clear, and for those particulaur examples, works. Huzzah.