Walt Disney are what you would call both vertically integrated and horizontally integrated. Integration is a term that is used to described conglomerates. You would call a conglomerate vertically integrated if they own two or three stages of production. In simpler terms, you need to be able to make the film and then either distribute it or exhibit it. Horizontal integration is when one company owns a range of different companies such as: newspapers, book, publishers, online or music companies. Now back to Walt Disney, as I said before they are both vertically and horizontally integrated. This can be proved by what companies they own. Walt Disney owns a film company called Walt Disney Pictures, they can make films (so we've got one of the production stages already) they also own Disney Channel, this means that they can exhibit their film. So they've got two of the production stages, making them vertically integrated. Moving onto why they are horizontally integrated, they are horizontally integrated because of the many different companies they own. Here are some examples of what companies Walt Disney own: Disney Music Group, Disney Theatrical Group, Disney-ABC Television Group, Radio Disney, ESPN Inc, Disney Interactive Media Group and many more.
How successful is this conglomerate?
Walt Disney are a massively successful company, you don't have to be a genius to realise this. The amount of companies they own coupled with how much money they make is astounding. They are hugely successful. They own not only a film studio but their own cruise line, many theatrical divisions, their own recording label, their own disney consumer products which produces toys, clothing and other types of Disney Merchandise. The amount of money they make from their theme parks alone is a third of its $45 billion revenue. All together they are worth (production companies and everything) 84 billion dollars.
What are the debates (pros + cons) of a few media conglomerates owning the majority of the media.
A lot of people get up in arms about the fact that only a few media conglomerates own the majority of the media. There are so many debates going on about this. Many people have said that the cons of conglomerates owning 90% of the Media is that they only really care about making money, people say that there are certain things that aren't said on mainstream news that should be said (we're apparently being told a lot of lies by these major companies). Another con is that a lot of the things produced by these 6 major film companies are very similar to what they have done in the past. They think that we need more diversity in the media industry (film wise) If one media conglomerate has a certain style then that's all they are going to produce forever. It's very repetitive.
A few pros about this are that because these major media corporations are so big and successful, they can create very high quality content at a rapid speed. We'll hardly ever get a film that looks bad (the storyline may be bad in your opinion but you can't argue that the actual video quality and SFX of the film are going to be good. Also going back to the censorship issue it doesn't really matter if most of the media is owned by a few because there are plenty of outlets in the world for people to have their say, the internet, being a big one. But also, alternative newspapers, loads of different television stations that are independent.
What new technologies has the film industry developed?
There are many new technological developments that have changed the way we watch film. For example, 3D. 3D has improved massively over the years. We've gone from cheap, carboard red and blue lensed glasses to high tech, high quality, super effective 3D glasses. Imax is another development that's changed the way we watch films. Imax uses lazer projection to make a crystal clear image. The screens in Imax cinemas are massive and slightly curved to make for a more immersive experience when watching films.
What new technologies has the film industry developed?
There are many new technological developments that have changed the way we watch film. For example, 3D. 3D has improved massively over the years. We've gone from cheap, carboard red and blue lensed glasses to high tech, high quality, super effective 3D glasses. Imax is another development that's changed the way we watch films. Imax uses lazer projection to make a crystal clear image. The screens in Imax cinemas are massive and slightly curved to make for a more immersive experience when watching films.
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BBC
The licence fee is £145.50 for a standard TV. for a black and white TV it's £45 the licence fee is something you have to pay if you want to watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. The public pay for the licence fee either yearly or monthly this is funding public service broadcasting, such as the BBC. The BBC are there to inform educated and entertain. There are many debates about the usefulness of the licence fee. Coming into 2015 statistics show a lot of people don't even watch TV as it's being broadcast anymore they are watching online, on demand streaming services like Netflix, Huluplus, Amazon prime etc. A lot of people who do watch TV as it's being broadcast, don't even watch the BBC meaning that they are paying for channels that they don't even watch, making the licence fee useless really. Alternatives of the licence fee are the BBC (and other public service broadcasting channels) turning into commercial channels, this would make it so that we don't even need a licence fee. An article wrote for the guardian says that another alternative that the ITV has suggested doesn't necessarily get rid of the licence fee it just splits where our money would go to. The ITV feel that they should get paid a percentage of the licence fee because they do basically the same thing as the BBC but they aren't a public service broadcaster. I think that the licence fee is useful but only if the BBC actually do what their ethos is. They're more entertainment rather than informing and educating right now. As long as they get that right balance of information, education and entertainment then it's okay, but if they're just more entertainment than anything then it's useless having the licence fee cause they're just like every other channel out there.
The BBC has quite a lot of competition, their main one being ITV. The ITV are it's main rival because they air really similar programmes as the BBC do. For example, BBC show 'The Voice' (a singing competition) and then ITV have a show called XFactor (also a singing competition) Strictly come dancing is hosted on BBC it's a dancing competition, but then ITV have a show called Dancing on Ice, which is also a dancing competition. Another channel that they are competing with are Channel 4 with Hollyoaks, the BBC show Eastenders, ITV show Coronation street. These soaps bring in a mass amount of viewers for each channel and they're all in competition for which soap is better.
What New technologies have they developed and how have these new technologies changed the way we watch/use the BBC?
What New technologies have they developed and how have these new technologies changed the way we watch/use the BBC?
Over the years the way we watch TV has changed dramatically. For example video on demand is a service that has come around recently where people don't have to watch the shows right as they are being broadcast. On-demand streaming services such as BBC Iplayer can be watched on anything from tablets to phones to laptops. You can view them at anytime, out and about so you don't even have to watch from your own home. BBC 3 has been totally changed from a channel on TV to an online channel now
What technological development do you think is next for the way we watch television? (the living room of the future?)
What technological development do you think is next for the way we watch television? (the living room of the future?)
The future of technology is going in the direction of more immersive experiences when watching television, less effort when interacting with technology. The way that technology is advancing we'll end up not having to do anything but speaking to the TV. People have been working on new sensor tracking technology for the xbox one, this could lead to having our own fitness coach from the comfort of our own home. Another advancement in Television is the "IllumiRoom" Microsoft have been researching technology that could make watching a film even more immersive watching from your own home than it would be going to the cinema. The reason for this is that they are working on a TV that projects the things on screen all around your living room so it feels like you're in the film. "Don't watch a film, be in it"
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