“A democracy and free people cannot thrive
without a fiercely independent press”
· Dan Rather, journalist -7.28.2009 ·
without a fiercely independent press”
· Dan Rather, journalist -7.28.2009 ·
[Chart from MediaChannel.org. Click on image for details]
[Chart from thenation.com. Click on image for details]
[Some figures from FreePress.net for the 'Big Six'...]
General Electric
2008 revenues: $183 billion ($183 000 000 000)
General Electric media-related holdings include television networks NBC and Telemundo, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, 26 television stations in the United States and cable networks MSNBC, Bravo and the Sci Fi Channel. GE also owns 80 percent of NBC Universal.
Walt Disney
2008 revenues: $37.8 billion ($37 800 000 000)
The Walt Disney Company owns the ABC Television Network, cable networks including ESPN, the Disney Channel, SOAPnet, A&E and Lifetime, 277 radio stations, music and book publishing companies, production companies Touchstone, Miramax and Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, the cellular service Disney Mobile, and theme parks around the world.
News Corp.
2008 revenues: $33 billion ($33 000 000 000)
News Corporation’s media holdings include: the Fox Broadcasting Company, television and cable networks such as Fox, Fox Business Channel, National Geographic and FX, and print publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, TVGuide, the magazines Barron’s, SmartMoney and The Weekly Standard, book publisher HarperCollins, film production companies 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios, numerous Web sites including MarketWatch.com, and non-media holdings including the National Rugby League.
Time Warner
2008 revenues: $29.8 billion ($29 800 000 000)
Time Warner is the largest media conglomerate in the world, with holdings including: CNN, the CW (a joint venture with CBS), HBO, Cinemax, Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT, America Online, MapQuest, Moviefone, Warner Bros. Pictures, Castle Rock and New Line Cinema, and more than 150 magazines including Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, Marie Claire and People.
Viacom
2008 revenues: $14.6 billion ($14 600 000 000)
Viacom holdings include: MTV, Nickelodeon/Nick-at-Nite, VH1, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, Atom Entertainment, and music game developer Harmonix. Viacom 18 is a joint venture with the Indian media company Global Broadcast news.
CBS
2008 revenues: $14 billion ($14 000 000 000)
CBS Corporation owns the CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution Group, the CW (a joint venture with Time Warner), Showtime, book publisher Simon & Schuster, 29 television stations, and CBS Radio, Inc, which has 140 stations. CBS is now the leading supplier of video to Google’s new Video Marketplace.
Total 2008 revenues for the 'Big Six': $312.2 billion
($312 200 000 000)
[Source: freepress.net]