What is a “Media” Company, Anyway?

Consider this Netflix has about 42000000 video subscribers in the USamp160 YouTube has about a billion a dayamp160 Facebook has about 1500000000 active usersamp160 LinkedIn has 380000000 business membersamp160 The big big counts for Internet social media companies are global numbers amp8230 but the bulk is in the USStill you might say social media guys are not really media companiesWell maybe not the old definition of a media company but they clearly distribute media and perhaps more to the point they all have advertising And in many cases some version of subscriber fees And of course the one thing they all depend on is eyeballs Yours Mine Our kidsamp8217 Your crazy Uncle Larryamp8217s in the attic On and onConsider also LinkedIn has some 800 amp8220influencersamp8221 writing for it amp8230 and for youamp160 Youamp8217re probably a memberFacebook besides sharing news among members who are linked thatamp8217s also sort of local or amp8220communityamp8221 media is working with major publishers The New York Times for one and video producers NBC and CNN for two to incorporate traditional media into Facebook offeringsApple for its smartphone and tablet users aggregates selected media sources into a custom feed for its hundreds of millions of usersAll of the above sell advertising some get fees from subscribers of one sort or anotheramp160 All want your eyeballs amp8230 and mine and everyone elseamp8217s tooSo whatamp8217s a amp8220mediaamp8221 companyIf you want to understand todayamp8217s media ecosystem itamp8217s time to broaden your definitionsamp160 And time to think of what each entity really does Create programming Distribute programming Both Via the Internetamp160 Or via owned or leased infrastructure Via postal services Or some or all of the aboveWhich is just another way of saying if you want to survive and thrive in media youamp8217d better focus on the nuts and boltsamp160 Because the old amp8220mediaamp8221 definitions are just that OldRandom NotesNow is a great time to catch up on the latest installments of my new book The Revolutionary Evolution of the Media It39s a work in progress New chapters are coming soonThe Federal Confusion Commission denied Comcastamp8217s pursuit of Time Warner Cable because the combination would be too bigWhy did the Dolans agree to sell Cablevisionamp160 Scaleamp160 They could never really get it as cable accelerated consolidationamp160 And oh yeah a nice numberamp160 But hereamp8217s an impertinent question Has Altice overextendedamp160 The Financial Times wondered too asking amp8220amp8230 it is not just skyhigh debt levels and ambitious savings promises that are bothering investorsamp160 They are also fretting justifiably about executive overreachamp160 How at this breakneck expansion rate can Alticeamp8217s managers keep focusedamp8221The opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

What is a “Media” Company, Anyway?

Author

Publish date

Channel

Paul S. Maxwell

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

What is a “Media” Company, Anyway?

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Paul S. Maxwell

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

Cookies