The Big 6 (Media Cross-Ownership)

Media cross-ownership is the ownership of multiple media businesses by a person or corporation. These businesses can include broadcast and cable television, radio, newspaper, book publishing, video games and various online entities. When one organization owns any two of these media outlets, that organization was involved in “cross-ownership”. The owners of American media come under the “Big Six”. Time Warner is one of the “Big Six”. Many of these companies are considered rivals to Time Warner.

1.      NBC Universal

NBC Universal is and American media and Entertainment Company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, new, and information products and services to a global customer base. The first of the “Big Six” is NBC Universal. They own NBC and Telemundo, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, 26 television stations in the United States and 9 cable networks and the Comcast SportsNet regional system. In 2009, NBC Universal grossed $157 billion. They have a joint venture in which Comcast holds a controlling 51% stake in since January 2011. Through a separate subsidiary, Comcast owns two sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.

2.      The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company is an American diversified multinational mass media corporation headquartered in Walt Disney Studios, California. The Walt Disney Company owns the ABC Television Network. They own cable networks including the Disney Channel, ESPN, A&E and Lifetime. They own 277 radio stations, music and book publishing companies; production companies Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, cellular service Disney Mobile and many Theme Parks around the world. The Walt Disney Company grossed $36.1 billion in 2009.

3.      News Corporation

News Corp. is an American diversified multinational mass media corporation headquartered in New York City. Rupert Murdoch and his family members control the company. News Corporation own the Fox Broadcasting Company; television and cable networks including Fox, National Geographic and FX; print publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and TVGuide; the magazine Barron’s and Smart Money and book publisher HarperCollins. They own film production companies 20^th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios. In 2009 the corporation grossed $30.4 billion.

4.      Time Warner

Time Warner is fourth in the “Big Six”. They are the largest media conglomerate in the world, with holdings including CNN, HBO, Cinemax, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Castle Rock. They own more than 150 magazines. Time Warner grossed $25.8 billion in 2009.

5.      Viacom

Viacom Inc. is short for “Video & Audio Communications”. Viacom is an American global mass media company with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television. Their holdings include: MTV, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, VH1, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount Home Entertainment, Atom Entertainment, and music game developer Harmionix. Viacom 18 is a joint venture with the Indian media company Global Broadcast News. In 2009, the company grossed $13.67 billion. National Amusements, Inc., owns Viacom in majority a privately owned theater company based in Massachusetts. National Amusements holds another controlling stake in CBS Corporation.

6.      CBS Corporation

CBS Corporation is an American mass media corporation focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The CBS Corporation owns the CBS Television Network, CBS Television Distribution Group, the CW, Showtime, book publisher Simon & Schuster, 30 television stations, and CBS Radio Inc., which has 130 stations. CBS is now the leading supplier of video to Google’s new Video Marketplace. In 2009, the CBS Corporation grossed $13 billion.