December 22, 2001

10:03 AM

The Big Ten infographicsthat accompany The Nation's latest issue on big media conglomerates lays out just how big they are (maximize your browser for the viacom and AOLTW ones, there's a lot of small type in there).
posted by mathowie (9 comments total)

i'd like to have seen microsoft included and a breakout of computer game divisions :) but still nice work! like i didn't know GE owned 10% of salon.
posted by kliuless at 10:35 AM on December 22, 2001

I think its pretty illustrative of Microsoft's piddling media influence (MSNBC notwithstanding, I think NBC has most of the oversight there) versus AOL and others, which is more chilling to me.
posted by owillis at 12:00 PM on December 22, 2001

Interesting that some of them own bits and pieces of each other too.
posted by crasspastor at 4:49 PM on December 22, 2001

Here's a chart showing compensation for top media execs. These are some big number$.
posted by ferris at 5:00 PM on December 22, 2001

This is one of the more informative links I've seen on MeFi in a while, thanks Matt. Too bad it doesn't spark as much discussion - maybe the sheer mass of it all is a bit overwhelming. Amazing how much of our culture is controlled by so few. Certainly explains a lot of the homogenous nature of pop culture.

Owillis - I think MS has been silently backpedaling on being in the media business for a long time now, there's not much profit unless you're dominant. However they did just get a big boost when ComCast moved to purchase AT&T Broadband on Thursday. MS apparently worked to keep AT&T Broadband out of the hands of AOL/Time/Warner (and they own pieces of both AT&T Cable and Comcast). So I think they're working hard still, but more on the provider side than the content side.
posted by kokogiak at 7:41 PM on December 22, 2001

Nobody likes to talk about painful reality.

FLAG
posted by Niahmas at 10:37 PM on December 22, 2001

Nobody likes to talk about painful reality.

What alternate-reality version of MeFi have you been reading, Niahmas?

I'm reminded of They Rule, which has been noted here a few times.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:32 PM on December 22, 2001

Certainly explains a lot of the homogenous nature of pop culture

There is a market. They serve the demand. Just because you don't like Britney/Mariah/N'Sync/Whatever doesn't mean that there's inherently anything wrong with that.
posted by owillis at 2:52 AM on December 23, 2001

Hold up there owillis - just because I called something homogenous, it doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a bad thing - just an amazingly similar level of quality. I actually don't think a lot of it is bad, just not usually my style.
posted by kokogiak at 11:14 AM on December 23, 2001