Media Ownership & Mergers

 

What is a merger?

A merger is the combining of two or more companies.  Mergers have slowly consolidated ownership of media resources from many smaller companies to a few large companies. According to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service),  in 1983, 50 corporations controlled most of the American media, but by 2000 only six dominated the industry. This includes book publishing, news feeds, newspapers, movies, radio magazines and television.

 

Why does this matter to you?

It matters to all of us because it means that fewer companies control more of the media market. The concentration of media ownership leads to fewer voices being heard and fewer ideas being shared. Most of the large media companies allow their content to be driven by money rather than by the common good or the desire to help share information.  

 

With the consolidation of media companies, it becomes even more important to be able to figure out which media conglomerates own which subsidiaries. Here’s how to find information on Parent Companies/Subsidiaries :

• Login to either Business Source Premier or Business Source Elite both of which can be found on of the Library’s database page. Links to an external site. (To log in use your Portal login info.). Once you are in the database look at the blue bar at the top of the webpage and click on Company Profiles. Search for the company you want more information on. The MarketLine report will tell you about any subsidiaries or parent companies.
• If that doesn’t work for you, you can also do an internet search for the name of the company + subsidiaries (i.e. Comcast subsidiaries). This will usually provide a good starting place. Likewise, you can search for a company + parent company to get on the trail of who owns them (ie. NBC parent company).