Essay 1. Media ownership in America has been growing smaller because the market has grown in concentration, with a few oligopolies controlling most of the market share. There are at least three different forms of ownership that are realized by this concentration including chains, broadcasting networks, and media conglomerates. A company which owns several newspapers is a chain. Gannett Company is one of the largest chains in the United States today, owning over 80 newspapers (Blagi 47). Broadcast networks are radio and or television stations that offered scheduled programming. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) currently regulates broadcast network ownership as well as operations. The four major networks in the US are ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox. Broadcast stations can use affiliates, which are stations owned by separate companies than the networks themselves. Vertical integration leads the trend in how media companies are consolidating. Vertigal integration results from a series of mergers and acquisitions to where several aspects of media business are owned and controlled by one giant company. Viacom is one example, with ownership of MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, Comedy Central and more. (Blagi 112).
Essay 2. Two radio stations in NYC chosen were WCBS-FM 101.1 and WWPR -FM Power 105.1 FM. In the morning dayparts, both stations have News/Talk radio programming shows which are local programming at their stations. Both shows are rebroadcast in syndication. Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club is nationally syndicated and widely popular for its focus group studies of the most popular artists and celebrities in the Hip Hop, Rap and R&B music world.("Power 105.1Fm - The Breakfast Club") The show also interviews celebrities and attaches to the urban music world, as well. specific formats, genres and types of programming during spot sets. Both stations have morning talk radio programs in the 6:00am - 10:00am time slot. 101.1 FM has the Scott Shannon morning show on weekday mornings. His programming contains more generic forms of News/Talk programming that include includes call-ins and commentaries on news, sports, weather and local traffic. Scott's Shannon's morning show is nationally syndicated by satellite. The show has gained widespread popularity and boasts approximately four million viewers (“Scott Shannon and WBCBS-FM” ). In early evening hours, both stations offer different programming choices. WCBS 101.1 uses turnkey automation, playing Classic Rock tunes between the hours of 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Angelina Yee hosts the 2:00 - 6:00 pm time slot and DJ Eaze picks up from 7:00pm – 11:00pm in local, live production modes at Power105.1FM.("Power 105.1Fm - Playlists") Both stations cater to different listening audiences. Power 105.1 FM has built its reputation nationally as being the niche go-to station for the hottest R&B, Rap and Hip Hop music available in NYC on the radio. The ability of the show to attract the top talent to visit their studies, as well as the quality of their interviewing skills and talk has made Power105.1 among the best in niche. 101.1 FM caters to an older, typically white demographic of middle aged men which is the primary listening audience of Classic Rock.
Essay 3. Technology has played a huge impact on how we watch and listen to media, as well as how we interact with one another. Today, much less time is spent by audiences in a single home or household watching programming on television or listening to radio programs together. Today, the huge television events like the Super Bowl are increasingly accessed by viewers via the internet, using computers, tablets or mobile devices as well. This is piggybacked by an increasing trend for television audiences who want to interact and communicate with one another during the show or sports event, and have an opportunity to comment and share feedback with one another. The advent of the internet has created a new ways for people to mutually enjoy entertainment programming with one another, and in particular over the internet. According to a report released by the Associated Press in 2013, 1 in 4 TV viewers in US state that they look on social media while watching a favorite show or during a commercial (“Programming and Programming Basics – Week 9”). The internet is a moment of creative destruction for TV and radio in its traditional forms.
Discussion Question 1. Business formats of television, cable and radio. Is any harm caused by these formats being business media and not artistic media formats? What impact will Netflix and Apple TV have on the traditional business model? Netflix and Apple TV? Netflix and Apple TV and other on-demand streaming providers are the creative destruct-ors of the old cable broadcast TV model.(Altell) Yet this shift in the industry towards streaming TV may have positive externalities of forcing the media providers to focus on content first strategies, raising the bar as well as the fundamental importance of artistic quality in media production. Today's entertainment environment is increasingly driven by social media network effects from small, impassioned groups mobilizing groups on social media.(Altell) It is these magical moments where media sees significant profit.
Discussion Question 2. Consolidation from major media companies has increased competition and heightened the need for audience targeting. The ability of a radio company in the market makes it possible to take advantage of opportunities to set a better target market (audience as service users) and to provide niche services at the time of service delivery.(“Programming and Programming Basics – Week 5” ) Market segmentation is a prerequisite for targeting, and is a strategically-oriented procedural automation that integrates crucial elements of the marketing mix into business process.(“Programming and Programming Basics”) Radio companies perform segmentation for targeted service delivery. They also are able to develop strategically targeted promotion strategies and gain a better and more broad hold on the market niche they are seeking to penetrate and grab hold of fully.(“Programming and Programming Basics – Week 5”) This process allows for efficient and effective allocation of resources as well.
Works Cited
Altell, Greg. “How The Collapse Of The Cable Business Model Will Bring A New Era Of Television.” Forbes. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
Biagi, Shirley. Media impact: An introduction to mass media. Cengage Learning, 2011.
"Scott Shannon and WCBS-FM Agree to Multi-Year Contract Extension" CBSRadio.com. 7 July 2015. Web. Accessed online 22 February 2016. http://www.cbsradio.com/single-press/2746?filter=2015
"Power 105.1Fm - The Breakfast Club" Power1051fm.com 22 February 2016. Accessed online 22 February 2016.
“Programming and Programming Basics – Week Five”. Pearson Education. 2011. Power Point Presentation.
“Programming and Programming Basics – Week Nine”. Pearson Education. 2011. Power Point Presentation.
“Radio Programming Lecture Notes”. Online Lecture Notes. n.d.
