Who Owns The American Media? 'The Big 6'...

[paulitician]

Who Owns The Media? The 6 Monolithic Corporations That Control Almost Everything We Watch, Hear And Read


Back in 1983, approximately 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the United States. Today, ownership of the news media has been concentrated in the hands of just six incredibly powerful media corporations. These corporate behemoths control most of what we watch, hear and read every single day. They own television networks, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels and even many of our favorite websites.

Sadly, most Americans don’t even stop to think about who is feeding them the endless hours of news and entertainment that they constantly ingest. Most Americans don’t really seem to care about who owns the media. But they should. The truth is that each of us is deeply influenced by the messages that are constantly being pounded into our heads by the mainstream media.

The six corporations that collectively control U.S. media today are Time Warner, Walt Disney, Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., CBS Corporation and NBC Universal. Together, the “big six” absolutely dominate news and entertainment in the United States.

Read More:
Who Owns The Media The 6 Monolithic Corporations That Control Almost Everything We Watch Hear And Read

 

[Pogo]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

 

[paulitician]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

 

[Pogo]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

 

[paulitician]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

So 'obnoxious', yet you took the time to visit and post on the thread. No one forces you to visit threads. That's your call. If you have nothing to offer, don't visit the thread. Pretty simple solution, no?

 

[rightwinger]

paultician.....You forgot to mention the Jews

 

[peach174]

You do have to sit back from the screen in order to read it.

 

[Pogo]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

So 'obnoxious', yet you took the time to visit and post on the thread. No one forces you to visit threads. That's your call. If you have nothing to offer, don't visit the thread. Pretty simple solution, no?

I took the time to post because it's a worthy point that deserves a bump.
I know enough about this topic to offer plenty. You haven't said anything I take issue with here-- the point is spot on. I know you're itching for a fight but I have none to offer.

Except for the billboard type font. That's counterproductive. Turns people off.

So we'll lurk and wait for some wag to come in defending the Corporatia maw, and then we'll pounce. Deal?

 

[paulitician]

paultician.....You forgot to mention the Jews

Nice try at hijacking the thread. Now beat it fuckwit.

 

[Swagger]

paultician.....You forgot to mention the Jews

Indeed. I wonder why.

 

[paulitician]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

So 'obnoxious', yet you took the time to visit and post on the thread. No one forces you to visit threads. That's your call. If you have nothing to offer, don't visit the thread. Pretty simple solution, no?

I took the time to post because it's a worthy point that deserves a bump.
I know enough about this topic to offer plenty. You haven't said anything I take issue with here-- the point is spot on. I know you're itching for a fight but I have none to offer.

Except for the billboard type font. That's counterproductive. Turns people off.

So we'll lurk and wait for some wag to come in defending the Corporatia maw, and then we'll pounce. Deal?

That's very petty and hateful. But like i said, no one forces you to visit threads. You can exit and never return. I'm cool wit that. See ya.

 

[Pogo]

You do have to sit back from the screen in order to read it.

​

 

[Pogo]

All too true. But is there a normal-sized print version for those of us under the age of 106?

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

So 'obnoxious', yet you took the time to visit and post on the thread. No one forces you to visit threads. That's your call. If you have nothing to offer, don't visit the thread. Pretty simple solution, no?

I took the time to post because it's a worthy point that deserves a bump.
I know enough about this topic to offer plenty. You haven't said anything I take issue with here-- the point is spot on. I know you're itching for a fight but I have none to offer.

Except for the billboard type font. That's counterproductive. Turns people off.

So we'll lurk and wait for some wag to come in defending the Corporatia maw, and then we'll pounce. Deal?

That's very petty and hateful. But like i said, no one forces you to visit threads. You can exit and never return. I'm cool wit that. See ya.

It's "petty and hateful" to point out that typing like this is obnoxious?

I call it stating the obvious but ... whatever. Congratulations on posting a worthy point and then proceeding to scuttle your own ship.

 

[paulitician]

paultician.....You forgot to mention the Jews

Indeed. I wonder why.

Ha, you Communist wankas didn't get the latest memo. You guys hate the Jews. Try and keep up.

 

[paulitician]

That all you have to offer? Very sad.

Sad that you posted a thread I agree with?

You just don't need to be obnoxious with it. Flanders has that gig.

So 'obnoxious', yet you took the time to visit and post on the thread. No one forces you to visit threads. That's your call. If you have nothing to offer, don't visit the thread. Pretty simple solution, no?

I took the time to post because it's a worthy point that deserves a bump.
I know enough about this topic to offer plenty. You haven't said anything I take issue with here-- the point is spot on. I know you're itching for a fight but I have none to offer.

Except for the billboard type font. That's counterproductive. Turns people off.

So we'll lurk and wait for some wag to come in defending the Corporatia maw, and then we'll pounce. Deal?

That's very petty and hateful. But like i said, no one forces you to visit threads. You can exit and never return. I'm cool wit that. See ya.

It's "petty and hateful" to point out that typing like this is obnoxious?

I call it stating the obvious but ... whatever. Congratulations on posting a worthy point and then proceeding to scuttle your own ship.

Yes, it is petty and hateful. You can leave now. Have a good day.

 

[longknife]

Some more information on the ownership of the major media outlets.

It appears that ALL are public corporations owned by stockholders. It would be interesting to know exactly who runs each of them - and thir subordinate entities.

 

[rightwinger]

Fact is.....you can't control the media like you used to

With the growing interweb, conflicting points of view can be posted and spread throughout the world

With Twitter and Instagram you can instantly post pictures and videos of emerging stories

The genie is out of the bottle

 

[Pogo]

Some more information on the ownership of the major media outlets.

It appears that ALL are public corporations owned by stockholders. It would be interesting to know exactly who runs each of them - and thir subordinate entities.

The illustration is eerie enough but only part of the story.

Let's take one random example:

Book Publishing
Imprints include -

• Time-Life International Books
• Time-Life Education
• Time-Life Music
• Time-Life AudioBooks
• Book-of-the-Month Club
• Paperback Book Club
• Children's Book-of-the-Month Club
• History Book Club
• Money Book Club
• HomeStyle Books
• Crafter's Choice
• One Spirit
• Little, Brown
• Bulfinch Press
• Back Bay Books
• Warner Books
• Warner Vision
• The Mysterious Press
• Warner Aspect
• Warner Treasures
• Oxmoor House
• Leisure Arts
• Sunset Books
• TW Kids
• Leisure Arts

Cable and Satellite
US operations include -

• HBO Home Video
• HBO Pictures/HBO Showcase
• HBO Independent Productions
• HBO Downtown Productions
• HBO NYC Productions
• HBO Animation
• HBO Sports
• Cinemax
• Time Warner Sports

International

• HBO Asia
• HBO en Espa–ol
• HBO Ole (with Sony)
• HBO Poland (with Sony)
• HBO Brasil (with Sony)
• HBO Hungary
• Cinemax Selecciones

Other Operations

• HBO Direct (DBS)
• Comedy Central (50% owned with Viacom)
• CNN
• CNN
• CNN/SI
• CNN International
• CNN en Espanol
• CNN Headline News
• CNN Airport Network
• CNN fn
• CNN Radio
• CNN Interactive
• Court TV (with Liberty Media)
• Time Warner Cable
• Road Runner (high speed cable modem to the Internet, with MediaOne Group, Microsoft, and Compaq)
• Time Warner Communications (telephone service)
• New York City Cable Group (major cable network with around 1 million subscribers)
• New York 1 News (24 hour news channel devoted only to NYC)
• Time Warner Home Theater (Pay-Per-View)
• Time Warner Security (residential and commercial security monitoring)
• Kablevision (53.75% - cable television in Hungary)

Film & TV Production/Distribution
A detailed profile of the Warner production, distribution and exhibition arm is here. The major units are -

• Warner Bros.
• Warner Bros. Studios
• Warner Bros. Television (production)
• The WB Television Network
• Warner Bros. Television Animation
• Hanna - Barbera Cartoons
• Telepictures Production
• Witt - Thomas Productions
• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Warner Home Video
• Warner Bros. Domestic Pay - TV
• Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
• Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
• The Warner Channel (Latin America, Asia - Pacific, Australia, Germ.)
• Warner Bros. International Theaters (owns/operates multiplex theaters in over 12 countries)

Magazines

• Time
• Time Asia
• Time Atlantic
• Time Canada
• Time Latin America
• Time South Pacific
• Time Money
• Time For Kids
• Fortune
• Life
• Sports Illustrate
• Sports Illustrated Women/Sport
• Sports Illustrated International
• SI for Kids
• Inside Stuff
• Money
• Your Company
• Your Future
• People
• Who Weekly (Australian edition)
• People en Espa–ol
• Teen People
• Entertainment Weekly
• EW Metro
• The Ticket
• In Style
• Southern Living
• Progressive Farmer
• Southern Accents
• Cooking Light
• Parenting
• Baby Talk
• Baby on the Way
• This Old House
• Sunset
• Sunset Garden Guide
• Health
• Hippocrates
• Coastal Living
• Weight Watchers
• Real Simple
• President (Japan)
• Dancyu (Japan)
• Wallpaper (UK)

Over 100 titles under the IPC umbrella in the UK, including

• 19
• 25 Beautiful Homes
• Aeroplane
• Amateur Gardening
• Amateur Photographer
• Angler's Mail
• Bird Keeper
• Cage & Aviary Birds
• Cars & Car Conversions
• Caravan
• Chat
• Classic Boat
• Country Homes & Interiors
• Country Life
• Cycle Sport
• Cycling Weekly
• Decanter
• essentials
• Eventing
• Family Circle
• Farm Holiday Guides
• Golf Monthly
• The Guitar Magazine
• Hair
• Hi-Fi News
• Homes & Gardens
• Horse
• Horse & Hound
• Ideal Home
• International Boat Industry
• Land Rover World
• Livingetc
• Loaded
• Marie Claire
• MiniWorld
• Mizz
• Model Collector
• Motor Boats Monthly
• Motor Boat & Yachting
• Motor Caravan Magazine
• Mountain Bike Rider
• Muzik
• NME
• Now
• 4x4
• Park Home & Holiday Caravan
• Practical Boat Owner
• Practical Parenting
• Prediction
• Racecar Engineering
• The Railway Magazine
• Rugby World
• Ships Monthly
• Shoot Monthly
• Shooting Times
• Soaplife
• Sporting Gun
• Stamp Magazine
• SuperBike
• The Field
• The Golf
• TVTimes
• TV & Satellite Week
• Uncut
• VolksWorld
• Webuser
• Wedding & home
• What Digital Camera
• What's on TV
• Woman
• Woman & Home
• Woman's Own
• Woman's Weekly
• Women & Golf
• World Soccer
• Yachting Monthly
• Yachting World
• Yachting & Boating World

American Express Publishing Corporation (partial ownership/management)

• Travel and Leisure
• Food & Wine
• Your Company
• Departures
• SkyGuide

DC Comics

• Vertigo
• Paradox
• Milestone
• Mad Magazine

Music Recording Labels
The group's music recording and publishing arm was unloaded as Warner Music - described in a separate profile - in 2003. It included -

• The Atlantic Group
• Atlantic Classics
• Atlantic Jazz
• Atlantic Nashville
• Atlantic Theater
• Big Beat
• Blackground
• Breaking
• Curb
• Igloo
• Lava
• Mesa/Bluemoon
• Modern
• 1 43
• Rhino Records
• Elektra Entertainment Group
• Elektra
• EastWest
• Asylum
• Elektra/Sire
• Warner Brothers Records
• Warner Brothers
• Warner Nashville
• Warner Alliance
• Warner Resound
• Warner Sunset
• Reprise
• Reprise Nashville
• American Recordings
• Giant
• Maverick
• Revolution
• Qwest
• Warner Music International
• WEA Telegram
• East West ZTT
• Coalition
• CGD East West
• China
• Continential
• DRO East West
• Erato
• Fazer
• Finlandia
• Magneoton
• MCM
• Nonesuch
• Teldec

Other Recording Interests and Joint Ventures

• Warner/Chappell Music (publishing company)
• WEA Inc. (sales, distribution and manufacturing)
• Ivy Hill Corporation (printing and packaging)
• Warner Special Products
• Columbia House (minor stake with Sony - direct marketing)
• Music Sound Exchange (with Sony - direct marketing)
• Music Choice and Music Choice Europe (with Sony, EMI and General Instrument)
• Viva (with Sony, Vivendi and EMI) - German music video channel
• Channel V (with Sony, EMI, Bertelsmann and News)
• Heartland Music (50% - direct order of country and gospel music)

Online/Other Publishing

• AOL
• Road Runner (with Microsoft)
• Warner Publisher Services
• Time Distribution Services
• American Family Publishers (50%)
• Pathfinder
• Africana.com

Retail & Parks

• Warner Bros. Consumer Products
• Warner Bros. Studio Stores (250 stores worldwide in over 30 countries)
• Warner Brothers Recreation Enterprises - owns/operates international theme parks (Australian parks are in partnership with Village Roadshow)

Turner Entertainment
Entertainment Networks

• TBS Superstation
• Turner Network Television (TNT)
• Turner South
• Cartoon Network
• Turner Classic Movies
• Cartoon Network in Europe
• Cartoon Network in Latin America
• TNT & Cartoon Network in Asia/Pacific

Film Production

• New Line Cinema
• Fine Line Features
• Turner Original Productions

Sports

• Atlanta Braves
• Atlanta Hawks
• Atlanta Thrashers
• Turner Sports
• World Championship Wrestling
• Good Will Games
• Philips Arena

Other Operations

• Turner Learning
• CNN Newsroom (daily news program for classrooms)
• Turner Adventure Learning (electronic field trips for schools)
• Turner Home Satellite
• Turner Network Sales

(source)

Obviously when you control that much of the Telescreen, you don't just get to paint the news the way that fits your purposes --- you get to dictate what's news and what isn't. Including creating "stories" where no legitimate story exists. And not just the news, the entire culture around the news. Because this TV and those magazines and the other newspapers say it's a story -- oh we didn't mention they all belong to us. And then you've got the book author interviewed on that TV station (we own them both too) and look here's a movie about this "issue". Yeah that's our movie production company, so what? And look, here's a hot new band singing about the issue -- on our record label, so what? They're playing concerts, and yes it's in our arena, so what?

Independents? Rhino Records is part of this empire. Rhino Records.

Yeah, go get your perspective from the internets -- guess what, we might control that too. If we don't control yours, one of our five coconspirators probably does. Even comic books and kids' cartoons.

Now that's what I call controlling the whole dialogue. You just created bought your own Bubble. A sub-Bubble of the six-sided Bubble.

And the same is repeated for the other behemoths. We're just lucky there are still six rather than one, but as the pool of independents dwindles the stream of information becomes more and more and more constrained. Because these behemoths have way more in common with each other than they have with their audience. And not a single one of them is in it to provide the public service of an information source. They're all in it to make money. And in that, truth always becomes the first casualty.

 

[longknife]

Wow! Who knew?

The question then is - just who in all of that has the leverage to direct what is presented to the public?

I read somewhere that the real powers behind the news reporting are the tens of thousands of off-screen producers. What the "news speakers" say on screen are no longer the results of their own investigations but provided to them by someone we never see.

 

[Pogo]

Wow! Who knew?

The question then is - just who in all of that has the leverage to direct what is presented to the public?

I read somewhere that the real powers behind the news reporting are the tens of thousands of off-screen producers. What the "news speakers" say on screen are no longer the results of their own investigations but provided to them by someone we never see.

The cartel does.

Think of that six-headed hydra as like OPEC, except that where OPEC controls 40% of the world's oil and 60% of the trading, this particular cartel is doing 90.

Even without abuse that alone should be cause for rioting in the streets. Which of course would never be reported on Corporate Media. When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened the corporational floodgates enabling ClearChannel to own twelve hundred radio stations among other effects, the Corporate Media, who stood to benefit immeasurably from its passage, devoted a grand total --- all of them put together ---- of less than 20 minutes to reporting on it.