8.1 a) Ownership

Public Service

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is a TV company that is owned and funded by the government, this issue receives their money from tax, eg the TV licence fee. Public service broadcasting is vertically integrated and produces, broadcasts & exhibits all of its own programs, the issue aims to inform, educate & to a lesser extent entertain which can be done over a variety of programs and channels as this issue usually has other channels.

An example of PSB would be the BBC as it is owned and funded by the state, as well as having a family of channels, eg BBC 2,3. The BBC also fits the issue as it does produce programs aimed inform, educate & entertain for example Countryfile.
A positive aspect of the issue and for the BBC is how their content has a more  neutral outlook on events, also a positive from the audience point of view is how the BBC doesn't contain any adverts which generally is just less  annoying and better.

 However, as it is government run, the BBC are constantly receiving cuts from the government which in turn affects what they are able to produce. What perhaps is a little frustrating for the audience is how they are still forced to pay the £145.50 pound, whether people watch or not or how many people live in the same house (there's a set price)

Commercial

This issue differs from PSB as it is privately owned rather then by the government, often by shareholders and investors. Its funding is usually received by adverts that pay to have a time slot on their channel. Much like PSB it has a family of channels that also have a different focus on the content produced, however commercial channels aim their content to entertain the largest audiences which transfers to mainly exhibiting sports and films.

Channel 4 would be an example of this issue, as it is not owned by the state, and has a variety of other channels, eg Film 4. Much of their content is widely aimed to entertain which brings in bigger audiences and thus more money.
The positive aspect to this issue is how they are free from government interference which allows them to produce any type of content they want which in turn allows for more popular programs. As such in Channel 4's case, where they are able to produce and exhibit programs such as Peep Show & 8 out of 10 cats: does countdown, which are very popular programs for the audience as an entertainment show,
however they dont particularly inform or educate the audience.

However there are some weaknesses of the issue, are how they have to bend to advertisers and can be biased which perhaps is not particularly good for the audience. Rowntrees & Mentos sponsor both Film 4 and E4 which generates some good money for Channel 4 perhaps they are not as free as they would like to be.

Private & Corporate

Private and Corporate companies are both privately owned, either by an individual, a small group or shares are traded on the stock market. Whilst they both aim to maximize their profit, Corporate is a much bigger company then just a private one. Corporate is more structured and typically both horizontally and vertically integrated, whilst a private company can vary massively.

An example of a Corporate company would be Walt Disney Pictures, as they own other production companies as well as various distributors & exhibitors. One of the major positive things for this issue and for Walt Disney Pictures is the fact its very much businesslike and bad management can easily be removed.

However with such a big business like Walt Disney, the very fact that they work to maximize profit, can lead to a lack of creativity in what content they produce for their audiences. An example that fits these themes of lacking creativity would be Walt Disney Pictures producing films such as 'Planes' which is very similar to the film Cars which they also made. Planes is a good example of how a corporate company will produce films which are particularly similar just because they will produce profit from their target audience of young children and families.

Independent Companies

Independent companies are typically smaller then the corporate companies and usually specialize in one medium, they are away from the big 6 Hollywood companies and will produce texts for the niche audiences. Independent companies have roughly 15% of the market and are rarely integrated.

An example of this issue would be Blueprint Pictures as they are alone, free to make what they want but don't make nearly as much money or receive much recognition for their content. For Blueprint Pictures they are able to be very creative and experiment with things and on some occasions they can become very successful dependent on one of their ideas being liked and sold to various other production companies and channels.

However these independent companies do struggle to find a distributor and someone who will exhibit their content, as well as the market becoming very saturated as a lot of companies fight within that 15%. Blue print pictures produced 'The best exotic marigold hotel' which for them was a huge film, however that was one of only a handful of films and is really the only recognisable one to the public, which just illustrates the lack of funds these independent companies have to market their films whether or not they have the potential for big success or just a bad film.

Global Companies

Global companies are both for TV and film companies, they are typically a big company that own various different types of  e-media. They generally produce content for the mainstream audience that will entertain them, global companies are usually horizontally and vertically integrated with exhibition platforms across the world.

An example of a global company would be Sony as they own and produce many different types of things in the media sector. For Sony as they are vertically integrated profits are maximized, and in an experimental way which potentially can make a loss they are able to absorb it and not be affected to badly. Sony also have this big brand name, which means that the public are more likely to purchase Sony products rather then other brands.

But, Sony rarely take risks in experimenting and often produce products & content that will appeal to the mainstream audience. They will produce films that they know will make profit, for example they have made films including 'skyfall' & '21 jump street' among other various action or comedy films because they appeal to such a wide audience. The company are also very business like, which in terms of the structure of management for the company it is very delicate, and often falls on someone if a wrong decision has been made.

Vertical & horizontal integration

This issue is when a film or TV production company own other production companies (horizontal integration) or as well as the company owing various distributor and exhibition companies as well. (vertical integration)

An example of this issue would be Universal studios, as they are one of the big six Hollywood film companies they will own various other companies that fit this issue. Being vertically and horizontally integrated especially for Universal Studios means they have a little competition, as well as having a big brand name more people will decide to watch their films.

However as their aim is to maximize profits they is a lack of innovation within their content and they don't particularly experiment. Also as their is no real competition the company are perhaps not under pressure to produce new and exciting content. Universal were responsible for making the 'fast and furious' films in which they knew would continue to sell every time especially after the death of Paul Walker and now there is 'fast 8' being produced which shows that Universal just want money because in truth perhaps the franchise should be over by now.

Monopoly  

Monopoly applies to both TV and film, and usually relates to the exhibition sector. Monopoly's actual meaning is an industry that is dominated by a single company that provide a service to the audience. An industry can be dominated by a group of companies for example the big six Hollywood film companies, which to phrase would be, oligopoly.

However, an example of Monopoly in TV for the UK would be Sky, they offer a variety of subscriptions and payable ways for the audience to view much of today's TV. Sky have been able to dominate much of the sporting channels, movie channels and general other channels that cant be watched through mainstream TV (Freeview.)
The positives for Sky as an example of the issue would be how they do dominate and so don't particularly have competition as they already own so much, the audience will always use them. Sky also work for the most profit, which means they will exhibit the most entertaining channels and programs for the audience.

However like other issues they have a lack of creativity and whilst they are just a dominate force in the exhibition industry, they still don't produce much of their own programs. What perhaps may also be worrying is how owners of such large companies can become very powerful individuals, not only within their media sector but through a more worldwide business stage.  An example of a very powerful man would be Rupert Murdoch, he owns much of the media sector that audiences consume, that not only is he a powerful figure in the media sector, but outside of media he can have a huge influence which perhaps in unnerving if one man should have so much power.