U.S. Media Control / Operation Mockingbird
The past decade's wave of media mergers has produced a complex web of business relationships that now defines America's media and popular culture. These relationships offer a massive opportunity for cross promotion and selling of talent and products among different companies owned by the same powerful parent corporation.
Examine the charts breaking down what each of the five U.S. media giants now control (as of February 2001). Also included on this list is Bertelsmann AG, which in globalizing has bought up several large American media divisions.
frontline: merchants of cool: media giants | PBS
30+ years ago, hundreds of companies controlled the media. Today the number has decreased to 7. This, too, plays a particularly large role in the suppression of vital / controversial information. Silence extends from 9/11 to the Bush family history. Viacom is an example that accurately shows the lack-of “balance” in modern media. The following are owned, operated, and controlled by Viacom:
Radio
Networks: Infinity Broadcasting (manages Westwood One Radio Network), Metro Networks
Stations: Infinity Broadcasting (owns and operates over 180 stations)
TV
Networks: CBS, UPN, MTV Network, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TV Land, CMT, TNN, VH1, Noggin (joint venture with Children's Television Workshop), Showtime Networks, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Sundance Channel (joint venture with Robert Redford and Universal
Studios), FLIX, SET Pay-Per-View (sporting and entertainment events), BET,
Comedy Central (joint venture with AOL Time Warner)
Production and Distribution
Paramount, Spelling Entertainment Group (80%), Big Ticket Television, Viacom Productions, King World Productions
Stations
16 CBS-affiliated stations
19 UPN-affiliated stations
Internet
MTVi Group, CBS Internet Group, Nickelodeon Online, BET.com, Contentville.com (35%)
Film
Production and Distribution: Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies
Theater Operations
United Cinemas International (joint venture with Vivendi Universal), Paramount Theaters, Famous Players (Canada)
Video
Blockbuster Video
Publishing
Books: The Free Press, MTV Books, Nickelodeon Books, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Scribner, Touchstone
Other
Famous Music Publishing (copyright owners), Theme Parks, Paramount Parks, Infinity Outdoor/TDI Worldwide -- the largest outdoor advertising group in the U.S., Star Trek franchise
This is only covers 1 of 7, mind you.