Media ownership is the act of fewer organizations and individuals controlling escalating shares in the mass media (Saeed & Saleem, 2020). Media ownership exists in different forms but benefits few individuals of mass media. For instance, vertical ownership is the incidence of individuals and organizations owning various associations in mass media production and distribution stages. Horizontal ownership constitutes organizations or individuals owning different but similar products of mass media. Diagonal ownership comes in when diverse media businesses are cross-owned.
Media ownership has resulted in significant impacts, more specifically to the big six conglomerates, including Time Warner, GE/Comcast, CBS, The Walt Disney Company, Viacom, and News Corporation. Information has become a significant power in today’s internet-driven world. The degree and pace at which it is spread are approximately compared to authority and money. Hence, ownership of such powers by more prominent media companies such as the big six conglomerates as stated by Kneafsey (2018) would become a significant channel to propagate public opinion in varied ways.
A significant example of how we benefit from media is our inspiration as we watch Marvel movies. It is a franchise among the mentioned big six conglomerates called Disney. They have increased their monetary value gains, power, and audiences through the production of franchises (Saeed & Saleem, 2020). It is usually not possible to realize that it is a single company and not two. However, in the end, the owners applause more significant benefits from such franchises and influence their fans and audiences in different ways (Clark, 2019). The release of Avengers super hit the audiences’ outcomes as to whether it would be more attractive than the original production. However, the show will still have audiences to watch due to the impacts of the big six conglomerates. It is a significant example that shows case deeper and broader implications of media ownership. In contrast, we have all continued to believe them even though the phenomenon does not comprise its quality and capabilities of benefiting society.
References
Clark, J. L. (2019). Advertising in an assembled franchise: Utilizing product placement on storytelling instruments within the marvel cinematic universe (Doctoral dissertation, Appalachian State University). Web.
Kneafsey, L. (2018). Media ownership, differential coverage, and effects on public attitudes: The case of news coverage of labour unions (Doctoral dissertation, Trinity College Dublin). Web.
Saeed, H., & Saleem, N. (2020). Media ownership and regulation influencing production of Prime-Time Television news bulletins in Pakistan.Global Political Review, V(I), 205-215. Web.