LO1 Task 1 - Ownership of 20th Century Fox

Cross media ownership - When a company makes more than one type of media product by owing companies that make different media...
(Another example is BBC - Radio, TV, Digital, Films).

Commercial - Makes a profit... (Most companies exist to make money)

Public Service Broadcaster - Funded by public money...(BBC and TV licence fee, channel 4 also has some PSB remit)

Joint venture - works with other companies...
(Warp and Film Four)

Independent - Not owned by another company, operates are makes products by itself

(Warp is an indie company)

Hello, my name is Dominic and I work on behalf of GSH (Global Media ) I’m going to be looking at media ownership. There is a few terms which I will go over: The first term is conglomerate, this is a word used to describe a larger company made up of lots of subsidiaries with an example of a conglomerate being News Corporation, because they own lots of subsidiaries such as, 21st century Fox and Fox sports. Another word is Independent. If a company is Independent that means they work by them self, and are not owned by any other companies. An example of this is who I will be looking at later, a company named Warp.

The final term you will need to know is Cross Media Ownership. This is where a company creates different types of Media Products. For Example 21st Century News Corporation make, Films, TV and Music. 

Warp Films:

In terms of ownership Warp is a Independent company. 

Warp was founded in 1989 by Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell. But after Rob Mitchell died in 200, so Steve Beckett took over and is still the current owner. 

Warp Films are an Independent Company, the term independent means that any other companies do not own the company and it works by itself. This means Warp is not a conglomerate, as it isn’t made up of subsidiaries.

Operating Model:

Warp is a cross media company; it has Warp films and Warp Records. Warp Films make films such as; this is England and Bunny and the Bull. Whereas Warp Records is a company that promotes musicians such as Jeremiah Jae. Warp also work with Film 4, to help distribute their films. Warp are not vertically or horizontally integrated. This is because they do not have the means to distribute them. For example 21st Century News Corp also own FOX TV and 21st Century FOX. They could advertise and help distribute it by using these other companies. This can also help create a media product. For example Warp films use Warp Music to get a soundtrack for a film that they have made.

Production Process:

The production process is in three steps. Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production. Pre-Production covers everything to do with getting everything ready. Such as getting any actors, sorting locations, etc. Production covers, the actual making of the production. For example filming and recording. And Post-production covers the finalising of the product, this is the final editing and checking. Warp specialise in Films, however they also make Music videos and TV shows. Warp specialise in digital media through Warp X. Pioneer of digital media. They partnered with Film 4, Optimum Releasing, UK Film Council, Screen Yorkshire and EM Media. Warp benefited from because they are an independent company they struggle to afford the money as they neither vertically or Horizontally integrated.

 

The Products:

Warp have made many famous films, such as Tyrannosaur (2011), This is England (2006), Dead Mans Shoes (2004) and Four Lions (2010). Warp produce Art-house films. This uses Social Realism. They have high levels of verisimilitude so therefore the films do have niche target audience. They are aimed at certain people. Like, This is England was aimed at people who like Dramas about British life. They are not big blockbuster films they only make small amounts compared to Blockbuster films. 

Market Position:

We know Warp are successful because they have branched out and now have a headquarters in London and Australia as well as their original in Sheffield. They are an international company, so they can release a product anywhere rather than just England like their rivals will. They are an international success. This is shown by the release of "This Is England" in America. This film was a huge success and then went on to move into other countries such as England. 

Competitors:

The main competitors for Warp are independent film companies such as Independent, Big Buddha Films and Sheffield Independent Film LTD. They are the main competitors as they make the same type of films as Warp. Warp have been extremely successful for an independent company. So they stand out from the opposition because they have made a name for them selves, and have now expanded to a huge level for an Independent company.