Summer Task 4- Media Research Task

1.        When talking about the media, what do we mean by the “Big Six”?

It is when a company owns multimedia businesses (media cross ownership). Businesses can include broadcast and cable television, film, radio, newspaper, magazine, book publishing, music, video games and the online presence.

2.       Who are the “Big Six”? What other companies do they own?

Comcast- NBC Universal, NBC, Telemundo, Universal pictures, Focus features, 26 television stations in the United States and cable networks USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, The Weather Channel, MSNBC, Syfy, NBCSN, Golf Channel,Esquire Network, E!, Cloo, Chiller, Universal HD and the Comcast SportsNet regional system. Comcast also owns the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Walt Disney Studios- ABC Television Network, cable networks ESPN, the Disney Channel, A&E and Lifetime, approximately 30 radio stations, music, video game, and book publishing companies, production companies Touchstone, Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, the cellular service Disney Mobile, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, and theme parks in several countries. Also has a longstanding partnership with Hearst Corporation, which owns additional TV stations, newspapers, magazines, and stakes in several Disney television ventures.

21^st Century Fox- the Fox Broadcasting Company; cable networks Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, FX, FXX, FX Movie Channel, and the regional Fox Sports Networks; print publications including the Wall Street Journaland the New York Post; the magazines Barron's and SmartMoney; book publisher HarperCollins; film production companies 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios.

Time Warner-  CNN, the CW (a joint venture with CBS), HBO, Cinemax, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, HLN, NBA TV, TBS, TNT, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Warner Bros. Pictures, Castle Rock, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and New Line Cinema.

Viacom- MTV, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, VH1, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures, and Paramount Home Entertainment.

CBS corporation- CBS Television Network and the CW (a joint venture with Time Warner), cable networks CBS Sports Network, Showtime, Pop; 30 television stations; CBS Radio, Inc., which has 130 stations; CBS Television Studios; book publisher Simon & Schuster.

3.       Find an example of a major product that each of the “Big Six” have produced within the last year, and research key information about these productions (budget, cast (if relevant), advertising campaign, release dates etc.)

Comcast- 2015 Comcast introduces the voice controlled TV remote, which allows customers to navigate tens of thousands of shows and movies on the X1 platform with their voice.

The Walt Disney Studios- 2016 Finding Dory, release date- 18^th July 2016 (UK) 8^th June 2016 (USA). Budget- $200 million, teamed up with USA Swimming teams. The massive promotional campaign features collaborations with Aussie, Band-Aid Brand, Bounty, Coppertone, Ice Chips, Juicy Juice, Kellogg’s, Kraft Macaroni Cheese, Natures Finest Bread, Pirates Booty, Quaker, Subway, and Yoplait GoGurt. Also teamed up with Boots by advertising Soltan sun care products (window displays (695 stores) and in-store audio (330 stores)). Cast- Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brookes, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Diane Keaton, Idris Elba.

21^st Century Fox- Deadpool, release date- 10^th February 2016 (UK) 12^th February 2016 (USA). Budget- $58 million. Cast- Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg. Advertising campaign- teaser trailers, comic books, film franchise (Marvel). Partnered with Sky (TV adverts).

Time Warner- Suicide Squad. Release date- 1^st August 2016 (UK/USA). Budget- $175 million. Cast- Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Will Smith, Cara Delevingue. Advertising campaign- using well-known actors, also well-known characters, teaser trailers.