# Media conglomerate

A media conglomerate, media company, media group, or media institution is a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises, such as music, television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, video games, amusement parks, or the Internet. The weekly magazine The Nation commented, "Media conglomerates strive for policies that facilitate their control of the markets around the world."

## Terminology

A conglomerate is a large company composed of a number of companies (subsidiaries) engaged in generally unrelated businesses.
Some media conglomerates use their access in multiple areas to share various kinds of content such as: news, video and music, between users. The media sector's tendency to consolidate has caused formerly diversified companies to appear less diverse to prospective investors in comparison with similar companies that are traded publicly and privately. Therefore, the term media group may also be applied, however, it has not yet replaced the more traditional term.

## Criticism

Critics have accused the large media conglomerates of dominating the media and using unfair practices. During a protest in November 2007, critics such as Jesse Jackson spoke out against consolidation of the media. This can be seen in the news industry, where corporations refuse to publicize information that would be harmful to their interests. Because some corporations do not publish any material that criticizes them or their interests, media conglomerates have been criticized for limiting free speech or not protecting free speech. These practices are also suspected of contributing to the merging of entertainment and news (sensationalism) at the expense of the coverage of serious issues. They are also accused of being a leading force behind the standardization of culture (see globalization, Americanization) and are frequently criticized by groups that perceive news organizations as being biased toward special interests of the owners.
Because there are fewer independent media, there is less diversity in news and entertainment and therefore less competition. This can result in the reduction of different points of view as well as vocalization about different issues. There is also a lack of ethnic and gender diversity as a majority of those in media are white, middle-class men. There is a concern that their views are being shared disproportionately more than other groups, such as women and ethnic minorities. Women and minorities also have less ownership of media. Women have less than 7 percent of TV and radio licenses, and minorities have around 7 percent of radio licenses and 3 percent of TV licenses.

## Examples by country

In the 2024 Forbes Global 2000 list, Comcast is the world's largest media conglomerate, in terms of revenue, with The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, & Paramount Global completing the top four.
In 1984, fifty independent media companies owned the majority of media interests within the United States. By 2011, 90% of the United States's media was controlled by six media conglomerates: GE/Comcast (NBC, Universal), News Corp (Fox News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post), Disney (ABC, ESPN, Pixar), Viacom (MTV, BET, Paramount Pictures), Time Warner (CNN, HBO, Warner Bros.), and CBS (Showtime, NFL.com).
Between 1941 and 1975, several laws that restricted channel ownership within radio and television were enacted in order to maintain unbiased and diverse media. However under the Reagan administration, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission, then led by FCC Chairman Mark S. Fowler, began a concerted deregulation over the years 1981 and 1985. The number of television stations a single entity can own increased from seven to 12 stations.
The industry continued to deregulate with enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Signed by President Bill Clinton on 8 February 1996, it was considered by the FCC to be the "first major overhaul of telecommunications law in almost 62 years". In the radio industry, the 40-station ownership cap was lifted, leading to an unprecedented amount of consolidation. Since this period, IHeartMedia grew from 40 stations to 1200 stations, in all 50 states, while Viacom grew to owning 180 stations across 41 markets.
As media consolidation grew, some in the nation began to speculate how it might negatively impact society at large. In the case of Minot, North Dakota, the concerns regarding media consolidation is realized. On 18 January 2002, a train containing hazardous chemicals derailed in the middle of the night, exposing countless Minot residents to toxic waste. Upon trying to get out an emergency broadcast, the Minot police were unable to reach anyone. They were instead forwarded to the same automated message, as all the broadcast stations in Minot were single-handedly owned by IHeartMedia. As the FCC reviews media ownership rules, broadcasters continued to petition it for the elimination of all rules, while those who are against this easing would often cite the incident in Minot as how consolidation could be harmful.
Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand also experience the concentration of multiple media enterprises in a few companies. This concentration is an ongoing concern for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission, and New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Authority. Other countries that have large media conglomerates with impacts on the world include: Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, Mexico and Brazil. Media conglomerates outside of the United States include Fujisankei Communications Group (Fuji Television), Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, Hubert Burda Media, ITV, ProSiebenSat.1, Mediaset, Axel Springer, JCDecaux, China Central Television, Alibaba Group, ABS-CBN Corporation, GMA Network, MediaQuest Holdings, Radio Philippines Network, Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Advanced Media Broadcasting System, People's Television Network, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, Presidential Broadcast Service, Viva Communications, Prasar Bharati, The Asahi Shimbun, Grupo Televisa, TV Azteca, Grupo Imagen, Grupo Globo, Baidu, GMM Grammy and Bertelsmann.

### United States

| | The Walt Disney Company | Comcast | Warner Bros. Discovery | Paramount Global | Access Industries | Hasbro | Amazon |
| Movie production | Walt Disney Studios | NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment | Warner Bros. Pictures Group | Paramount Pictures Corporation | AI Film (UK), RatPac-Dune Entertainment (controlling stake), Access Entertainment (US) | Hasbro Entertainment | Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| TV production | Disney TV Studios, It's a Laugh Productions, Disney TV Animation, FX Productions, Freeform Studios | Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, DWA Television | WB TV Studios, WB Animation, WBITVP, Cartoon Network Studios, Discovery Studios | Nickelodeon Animation Studio, CBS Studios | Amedia (majority stake) (RU) | Hasbro Entertainment | Amazon MGM Studios, MGM Television |
| Broadcast TV network | ABC, Localish (US); RTL Zwei (15.75% DE), NOW (TR) | NBC, Cozi TV, Sky, Telemundo, TeleXitos | The CW (12.5%), Three (NZ), Eden (NZ), Living (NZ) | CBS, The CW (12.5%), Channel 5 (UK), Telefe (AR), Network 10 (AU), Chilevisión (CL) | RGE Group (33%) (IL) | | |
| Cable channels | Disney Channels, UTV net, A&E Networks (50%), Fox Nets Group, Freeform, FX Networks, NatGeo Net (73%) | NBCUniversal Cable, Sky | TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, HBO, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, TLC, Discovery Family (60%), Warner Bros. Discovery International | Paramount Media Networks, Paramount International Networks, BET Media Group | RGE Group (33%) (IL) | Discovery Family (40%) | MGM+ |
| News, business channels/ operations | ABC News, ABC News Radio | NBCUniversal News Group, Sky News | CNN, HLN | CBS News, CBS News streaming service | | | |
| National sports networks/ operations | ESPN Inc. (80%) | NBC Sports Group, Sky Sports, NHL Network (15.6%) | TNT Sports, MLB Network (16%), NBA TV, Eurosport (Europe), DSport (India), Play Sports Group (71%, U.K.) | CBS Sports | Sports Channel (IL) | | |
| Audio industry | ABC Audio, Disney Music Group, Marvel New Media, Radio Disney Networks | Back Lot Music | WaterTower Music, Williams Street Records | Paramount Music | Warner Music Group | | |
| Publishing | Marvel Comics, National Geographic (73%), Disney Publishing Worldwide | | DC Comics, MAD Magazine, Golf Digest, Golf World; Motor Trend Group (joint-venture) | | | | Amazon Publishing, Kindle Direct Publishing |
| OTT | Disney+ (Star; Hotstar, Star+), Hulu, ESPN+, Marvel Unlimited (Comics) | Peacock, Now, Sky Go, Xumo | Max, Boomerang, DC Universe Infinite (Comics), Discovery+, GolfTV | Paramount+, Pluto TV, BET+, Noggin, Showtime | DAZN (85%) | | Amazon Prime Video, Freevee, Amazon Music, Twitch (Gaming), ComiXology (Comics) |
| Internet | | Fandango (70%) | Rooster Teeth, Fandango (30%) | MTV New Media | Deezer | | Box Office Mojo, IMDb |
| Telecommunications | | Xfinity, Sky Broadband | | | ICE Group | | |
| Video games | Disney Games and Interactive Experiences, Marvel Games, Lucasfilm Games | Universal Brand Development | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Rooster Teeth Games, Adult Swim Games | Paramount Digital Entertainment | | Archetype Entertainment, Invoke Studios | Amazon Games, Amazon Digital Game Store |
| Total Revenues | US$91.361 billion (FY24) | NBCUniversal: US$39.2 billion (2022) | US$41.3 billion (2023) | US$90.65 billion (2024) | US$17 Billion | US$4.7 Billion | |

### International

| | Sony (Japan) | Bertelsmann (Germany) | Vivendi (France) | Liberty Global (UK/US/NL) | Turkuvaz Media Group (TR/EU/US) | Essel Group (India) | CT Corp (Indonesia) | Televisa (Mexico) | Grupo Globo (Brazil) | TV Azteca (Mexico) | Grupo Imagen (Mexico) | ABS-CBN Corporation (Philippines) | The Times Group (India) | PLDT (Philippines) | Viva Communications (Philippines) | GMA Network Inc. (Philippines) | GMM Grammy (Thailand) | MBC Media Group (Philippines) | CJ Group (South Korea) |
| Movie production | Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, PlayStation Productions, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan (Japan) | UFA | | Lionsgate Films (US, 3.5%) | Sinehane (TR) | Zee Studios | Transinema Pictures | Videocine | Globo Filmes | Azteca Cinema | | Star Cinema | Mirchi Movies Limited, Junglee Pictures Limited | Cignal Entertainment | Viva Films | GMA Pictures | GDH 559 | | CJ Entertainment, CJ ENM Studios |
| TV production | Sony Pictures Television (US) | Fremantle (UK) | | Lionsgate Television (US, 3.5%) | Atv (Turkish Tv Channel) | Essel Vision Productions | | | Estúdios Globo | Azteca Estudios | | ABS-CBN Studios, Dreamscape Entertainment, Star Creatives Television, RCD Narratives, RGE Drama Unit, RSB Scripted Format | Metropolitan Media Company Limited | Cignal Entertainment | Viva Television | GMA Entertainment Group | GMMTV, GMM Bravo | MBC TV | CJ ENM, Studio Dragon (Culture Depot, GT:st, Gill Pictures, Hwa&Dam Pictures, KPJ Corporation), JS Pictures, Fifth Season (US, 55%) |
| Broadcast TV network | Get (US) | Buzzr (US) RTL Group (LU) | | Telenet (BE, 58%), Ziggo (NL, 50%), ITV plc (UK, minority), Virgin Media Television (IRL) | Zee Media Corporation, Zee Entertainment Enterprises | | Trans TV, Trans7 | Las Estrellas, Canal 5, Canal 9, FOROtv | Rede Globo | Azteca 7, Azteca Uno, ADN 40, A Más | Imagen Televisión | ABS-CBN (content provider), A2Z (blocktime with ZOE Broadcasting Network), TV5 (entertainment production partner), Knowledge Channel, PIE (co-owned with BEAM TV), GMA (entertainment production partner), All TV (entertainment production partner) | Times Global Broadcasting and Zoom Entertainment Network | TV5, RPTV (50%) | TV5 (entertainment production partner) | GMA, GTV, Heart of Asia Channel, I Heart Movies, Hallypop (under Jungo TV), Pinoy Hits | GMM 25, One 31 | | |
| Cable channels | Sony Pictures Television Networks | Buzzr (US) RTL Group (LU) | | Telenet (BE, 58%), Ziggo (NL, 50%), ITV plc (UK, minority), Virgin Media Television (IRL) | Zee Media Corporation, Zee Entertainment Enterprises | | | Televisa Networks | Canais Globo, Globo Internacional | Azteca Internacional | | Kapamilya Channel, Cine Mo!, Creative Programs, ABS-CBN Global Ltd. | Times Music, Movies Now, Romedy Now | PBA Rush, Sari-Sari Channel (50%), Pilipinas Global Network Ltd. | PBO, Viva Cinema, Sari-Sari Channel (50%), TMC: Tagalized Movie Channel, History, Crime & Investigation Network, Lifetime, Celestial Movies Pinoy | GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, GMA News TV | GMM Z | DZRHTV | Mnet, tvN, tvN Drama (formerly OtvN), tvN Show (formerly XTM and XtvN), tvN Story (formerly OnStyle), tvN Movies, OCN, CATCHON, Chunghwa TV, Tooniverse, DIA TV, UXN |
| News, business channels/ operations | | | | | Zee News | | CNN Indonesia (franchise), CNBC Indonesia (franchise) | | Noticieros Televisa | GloboNews | Azteca Noticias | Excélsior TV | ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, ABS-CBN News Channel, TeleRadyo Serbisyo (co-owned with Prime Media Holdings) | ET Now, Lead India, Mirror Now, Times Now | News5, One News, One PH | | GMA Integrated News, GMA Public Affairs | DZRH News Television | |
| National sports networks/ operations | | Sports Channel (IL) | | Ziggo Sport (NL, 50%) | | | Golf Channel Indonesia (JV), Golf+ | Televisa Deportes, TUDN | SporTV | Azteca Deportes | | | | One Sports, One Sports (TV channel), One Sports+ | | GMA Sports | | | tvN Sports |
| Audio industry | Sony Music Group (US), EMI Music Publishing (UK), Sony Music Entertainment Japan (Japan) | BMG | | | Zee Music Company | | Trans Talent Management | | Som Livre (former) | | Imagen Radio | MOR Entertainment, MyxRadio, Star Music, One Music PH, DWPM (co-owned with Prime Media Holdings) | Zoom, Radio Mirchi | Radyo5 | Viva Records, Halo-Halo Radio, Vicor Music, Ivory Music and Video | GMA Music (GMA Playlist, AltG Records), Super Radyo, Barangay FM | Chill FM Online, EFM 94, Green Wave 106.5 FM, Hot 91.5 | DZRH, Love Radio, Easy Rock Network, Yes FM, Aksyon Radyo, Radyo Natin | Stone Music Entertainment, Wake One Entertainment, AOMG |
| Publishing | | Gruner + Jahr, Penguin Random House (US, UK 53%), Bertelsmann Printing Group | | | | | | Editorial Televisa, Intermex | Editora Globo | | Excélsior | ABS-CBN Publishing | The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times, The Illustrated Weekly of India | The Philippine Star (51%), BusinessWorld (70%) | Viva Books Publishing Inc. | | Image, Madame Figaro Magazine, In Magazine | | |
| OTT | Crunchyroll | Videoland (Netherlands), RTL+ (Germany & Hungary) | | | ZEE5 | | | VIX | Globoplay | | | iWantTFC | Gaana, MX Player | Cignal Play | Vivamax | GMA On Demand | | | TVING (48.85%) |
| Internet | | | | | playwin | | detik Network | Comercio Más, Televisa Digital, Televisa Interactive Media | Globo.com | Azteca Internet | Imagen Digital | ABS-CBN Digital Media, Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBNnews.com | BoxTV.com, CricBuzz, TimesJobs, SimplyMarry, MagicBricks, ZigWheels | | | GMA New Media, GMANetwork.com, Kapuso Stream, GMA News Online | | MBC Digital | CJ ENM Digital |
| Telecommunications | So-net | | | UPC Broadband (Europe), Virgin Media (UK), Telenet (Belgium) (58%), Vodafone Netherlands (50%) | | | Izzi Telecom and Sky Mexico | | | | | ABS-CBN Convergence (68%), Sky Cable Corporation (59.4%) | PLDT, Smart, TNT, Cignal TV | | | | | |
| Video games | Sony Interactive Entertainment, Unties | | Gameloft | | | | | | | | | ABS-CBN Digital Media | | | | GMA New Media | | MBC Digital | |
| 2023 Revenues | Sony Entertainment: US$15.1 billion | US$20.30 billion | €16.02 billion | US$12 billion | US$110 million | Trans Corp: US$207.6 million | US$4.81 billion | US$4.4 billion | US$390 million | | US$760 million | US$1.5 billion (2016) | US$3,381 million | | US$391 million | US$204.44 million | US$19.6 million | US$2.31 million |