Media Ownership/Hegemony

Our group decided to research Disney for our Media Ownership/Hegemony because it was something that we could all easily relate to and we thought it would be more interesting than some of the others that were listed. Deciding upon it came fairly easily, we all agreed that we wanted to research it.

This was one of the better group projects, we all gathered in the R3 common room and discussed what our poster would look like and who would do which part of the project. While we were all gathered, one member accessed the Disney website, which contained most of the information we needed. Once everything was delegated (who would make the poster, who would present, etc.) the project was easily completed.

Those who lived in residence, particularly on R3 decided that they (we) would make the poster because it was the most convenient for all of us to gather together at once. We decided that using logos (i.e. the Disney Castle) would be most effective, and popular Disney characters would give the poster some fun.

Disney has an entire empire that encompasses everything from books to clothing to music to movies and more, with several companies in each. It is incredible to me how one corporation can have so many money making products. They way that they have sold themselves and just made it all work, everything tying into one another, presenting themselves and being available in all ways. That one company can own so much is ridiculous, but also entirely sensible.

Here is a list of everything that we put on our poster (from http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/granville.shtml) :


BOOKS:
-Walt Disney Company Book Publishing; 
-Hyperion Books; 
-Miramax Books.
CABLE:
-The Disney Channel 
-Toon Disney
-ESPN Inc. (80 percent) (includes ESPN; ESPN 2; ESPN News; ESPN Now) 
-ESPN Extreme
-Classic Sports Network (with AT&T)
-A&E Television (37.5 percent)
-The History Channel (with Hearst and GE)
-Lifetime Television (50 percent)
-E! Entertainment (34.4 percent)

TELEVISION: 

United States: ABC TV and radio networks; 10 television stations; 29 radio stations.
International: The Disney Channel U.K.; and seven other countries, including France, Italy and Spain; ESPN Inc. International; Eurosport (33 percent); Sportsvision of Australia (25 percent); ESPN Brazil (50 percent); ESPN STAR (50 percent); and sports programming throughout Asia. Net STAR (33 percent), owners of the Sports Network of Canada. Minority stakes in Tele-Munchen Germany; RTL-2 Germany; Hamster Productions France; TV Sport of France; Tesauro of Spain; Scandinavian Broadcasting System; Eurosport England; Japan Sports Channel.
TELEVISION PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION: 

-Buena Vista Television
-Touchstone Television
-Walt Disney Television
-Walt Disney Television Animation (production facilities in Japan, Australia, Canada).
FILM PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION: 

-Walt Disney Pictures
-Touchstone Pictures
-Hollywood Pictures
-Caravan Pictures
-Miramax Films
-Buena Vista Home Video
-Buena Vista Home Entertainment 
-Buena Vista International.
MAGAZINES/NEWSPAPERS 

Five magazine publishing groups: 
-ABC Publishing Imprints
-Disney Publishing Inc.
-Diversified Publications Group 
-Miller Publishing Group. Titles include Automotive Industries 
-Disney Magazine
-ESPN Magazine (distributed by Hearst) 
-Institutional Investor
-Kentucky Prairie Farmer.
Four daily newspapers, including St. Louis Daily Record.
ONLINE SERVICES 

-Buena Vista Internet Group
-ABC Internet Group 
-ABC.com
-ABCNEWS.com
-Oscar.com
-Mr. Showbiz
-Disney's Daily Blast
-Disney.com
-Family.com
-ESPN Internet Group
-ESPN.sportszone.com
-Soccernet.com (60 percent)
-NFL.com
-NBA.com
-NASCAR.com
-Go Network
-Infoseek (43 percent)
-Toysmart.com (majority stake, educational toys).
- Disney Interactive (develops and markets computer software, video/DVD games, CDs)
MUSIC 

-Buena Vista Music Group
-Hollywood Records 
-Lyric Street Records
-Mammoth Records
-Walt Disney Records
THEATER:
-Walt Disney Theatrical Productions (stage versions of "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "King David")
SPORTS FRANCHISES: 
-Anaheim Sports Inc.; Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (National Hockey League)
-Anaheim Angels (25 percent partnership) (Major League Baseball)
THEME PARKS and RESORTS: 

-Disneyland: Anaheim Disney
-MGM Studios
-Disneyland Paris
-Walt Disney World
-Disney's Animal Kingdom (Orlando, Florida)
-Walt Disney's World Sports Complex (golf, car racing and baseball complex)
-27 hotels with over 36,000 rooms 
-Disney Cruise Line (two cruise ships) 
The Disney Institute
RETAIL 

The Disney Store (Disney merchandise), over 720 worldwide.

Of course, Disney stretches outside of Canada, but this list alone proves how much control this company has over what we are exposed to. Isn’t Disney one of the few companies that public schools are allowed to show the students? Isn’t it a little bit big-brother-ish for one company to have so much control, to have so many outlets and advertising? It freaks me out a little, how this thing has nearly taken over. I guess I’ve never thought about who owns what and who is giving the yes or no to what goes on TV or on the news stands, but if it’s all coming form one place, that’s certainly something to think about.