Chart: Print
The U.S. media landscape is dominated by massive corporations that, through a history of mergers and acquisitions, have concentrated their control over what we see, hear and read. In many cases these giant companies are vertically intergrated, controlling everything from initial production to final distribution.
These charts are derived in part from information gathered by Columbia Journalism Review’s Who Owns What? site, one of many excellent resources on the web regarding media ownership. Learn more about media ownership »
Select a chart: The Big Six Cable TV Print Telecom Radio
2006 revenues: $27.0 billion
Bertelsmann AG is one of the world’s largest media companies, with substantial holdings in Europe and North America, including: book publisher Random House, international radio and television station owner RTL Group, music publisher BMG Music Entertainment, and media firm Gruner+Jahr.
Bertelsmann AG is one of the world’s largest media companies, with substantial holdings in Europe and North America, including: book publisher Random House, international radio and television station owner RTL Group, music publisher BMG Music Entertainment, and media firm Gruner+Jahr.
2006 revenues: $13.2 billion
Cox Enterprises, whose subsidiaries include Cox Cable, Cox Television and Cox Radio, controls 80 radio and 15 television stations, 43 newspapers, and several publishing companies. Cox also offers broadband Internet access and digital phone service; as of 2007 it had six million broadband customers and 2.3 million digital phone subscribers in the United States.
Cox Enterprises, whose subsidiaries include Cox Cable, Cox Television and Cox Radio, controls 80 radio and 15 television stations, 43 newspapers, and several publishing companies. Cox also offers broadband Internet access and digital phone service; as of 2007 it had six million broadband customers and 2.3 million digital phone subscribers in the United States.
2006 revenues: $10.6 billion
Reed Elsevier owns several publishing companies, including Elsevier, Lexis Nexis, and Reed Business Information and more than 400 print publications.
Reed Elsevier owns several publishing companies, including Elsevier, Lexis Nexis, and Reed Business Information and more than 400 print publications.
2006 revenues: $8.7 billion
Pearson’s massive publishing network includes The Penguin Group, Pearson Education, Harcourt Education International, The Financial Times, and several magazines.
Pearson’s massive publishing network includes The Penguin Group, Pearson Education, Harcourt Education International, The Financial Times, and several magazines.
2006 revenues: $8.5 billion
PRIMEDIA Inc. is the parent company of Consumer Source, which publishes free consumer guides and consumer publications throughout the U.S. Consumer Source also distributes content through its Web sites, which include: ApartmentGuide.com, AutoGuide.com, NewHomeGuide.com, and Rentals.com.
PRIMEDIA Inc. is the parent company of Consumer Source, which publishes free consumer guides and consumer publications throughout the U.S. Consumer Source also distributes content through its Web sites, which include: ApartmentGuide.com, AutoGuide.com, NewHomeGuide.com, and Rentals.com.
2006 revenues: $8.0 billion
Gannett holdings include 23 television stations, a massive portfolio of print publications with titles such as the USA Today, and a myriad of other related operations and services.
Gannett holdings include 23 television stations, a massive portfolio of print publications with titles such as the USA Today, and a myriad of other related operations and services.
2006 revenues: $7.7 billion
Advance/Newhouse holdings include Advance Publications, which publishes 25 daily newspapers in nine states, and magazine publisher Conde Nast. Advance/Newhouse also owns Bright House Networks cable operations, which serves 2.2 million subscribers. In addition, Advance/Newhouse has extensive online holdings, including CondeNet, concierge.com, epicurious.com, and style.com.
Advance/Newhouse holdings include Advance Publications, which publishes 25 daily newspapers in nine states, and magazine publisher Conde Nast. Advance/Newhouse also owns Bright House Networks cable operations, which serves 2.2 million subscribers. In addition, Advance/Newhouse has extensive online holdings, including CondeNet, concierge.com, epicurious.com, and style.com.
2006 revenues: $6.3 billion
McGraw-Hill controls a large network of book and newspaper companies and high-circulation publications, including BusinessWeek Magazine. The company also owns nine television stations and other, nonmedia-related businesses, including J.D. Power and Associates.
McGraw-Hill controls a large network of book and newspaper companies and high-circulation publications, including BusinessWeek Magazine. The company also owns nine television stations and other, nonmedia-related businesses, including J.D. Power and Associates.
2006 revenues: $5.5 billion
Tribune owns 23 television stations (reaching more than 80 percent of U.S. television households), one radio station, 26 newspapers, 10 magazines, and several publishing companies, among other holdings.
Tribune owns 23 television stations (reaching more than 80 percent of U.S. television households), one radio station, 26 newspapers, 10 magazines, and several publishing companies, among other holdings.
2006 revenues: $4.1 billion
Hollinger has an ownership stake in the Sun-Times Media Group, a newspaper publisher whose assets include the Chicago Sun-times and more than 100 community newspapers in the Chicago area.
Hollinger has an ownership stake in the Sun-Times Media Group, a newspaper publisher whose assets include the Chicago Sun-times and more than 100 community newspapers in the Chicago area.
2006 revenues: $3.9 billion
The Washington Post Company’s many operations include The Washington Post, Newsweek and numerous other magazines, six television stations, Cable One, and the educational company Kaplan, Inc.
The Washington Post Company’s many operations include The Washington Post, Newsweek and numerous other magazines, six television stations, Cable One, and the educational company Kaplan, Inc.
2006 revenues: $3.3 billion
The New York Times Company owns 18 newspapers including the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the International Herald Tribune, numerous online holdings, and two radio stations.
The New York Times Company owns 18 newspapers including the New York Times, the Boston Globe and the International Herald Tribune, numerous online holdings, and two radio stations.
2006 revenues: $2.9 billion
CanWest Global is the largest publisher of English-language newspapers in Canada. It also owns several magazines and has extensive holdings in cable and radio in Canada as well as in the U.K. and Turkey.
CanWest Global is the largest publisher of English-language newspapers in Canada. It also owns several magazines and has extensive holdings in cable and radio in Canada as well as in the U.K. and Turkey.
2006 revenues: $2.5 billion
The E.W. Scripps Company holdings include 10 television stations, a number of television networks, 19 newspaper publications, and online holdings.
The E.W. Scripps Company holdings include 10 television stations, a number of television networks, 19 newspaper publications, and online holdings.
2004 revenues: $2.2 billion
This subsidiary of Lagardere, a French aerospace and defense firm, owns magazines that are published worldwide. Brands include ELLE, Car and Driver, Woman’s Day and PointClickHome. Hachette Filipacchi Medias also owns Hachette Book Group USA, Curtis Circulation Company and Cellfish Media.
This subsidiary of Lagardere, a French aerospace and defense firm, owns magazines that are published worldwide. Brands include ELLE, Car and Driver, Woman’s Day and PointClickHome. Hachette Filipacchi Medias also owns Hachette Book Group USA, Curtis Circulation Company and Cellfish Media.
2006 revenues: $1.7 billion
The McClatchy Company owns 31 newspapers in 29 markets and other print publications. It is the third-largest newspaper publisher in the United States.
The McClatchy Company owns 31 newspapers in 29 markets and other print publications. It is the third-largest newspaper publisher in the United States.
2006 revenues: $1.6 billion
Meredith Corporation owns 26 magazines including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal and Parents, as well as 14 television stations and publishing company Meredith Books.
Meredith Corporation owns 26 magazines including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal and Parents, as well as 14 television stations and publishing company Meredith Books.
2006 revenues: $1.1 billion
Lee Enterprises owns 51 daily newspapers (with a joint interest in five others) and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states.
Lee Enterprises owns 51 daily newspapers (with a joint interest in five others) and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states.
2006 revenues: $1.1 billion
Media News Group owns 57 newspapers in twelve states, one television station, and four radio stations.
Media News Group owns 57 newspapers in twelve states, one television station, and four radio stations.
2006 revenues: $983 million
Media General owns 23 television stations, 25 metropolitan and community newspapers, more than 100 other periodicals, and Blockdot, Inc., an “advergaming” and game development firm.
Media General owns 23 television stations, 25 metropolitan and community newspapers, more than 100 other periodicals, and Blockdot, Inc., an “advergaming” and game development firm.
2006 revenues: $846 million
Hearst Corporation is one of the nation’s largest diversified communications companies with vast interests in magazines, newspapers, digital media, business media and television.
Hearst Corporation is one of the nation’s largest diversified communications companies with vast interests in magazines, newspapers, digital media, business media and television.
2006 revenues: $475 million
Morris owns 27 daily newspapers as well as 28 non-daily newspapers, city magazines and free community publications in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Alaska. It owns 36 radio stations, and has holdings in the areas of outdoor advertising, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services.
Morris owns 27 daily newspapers as well as 28 non-daily newspapers, city magazines and free community publications in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Alaska. It owns 36 radio stations, and has holdings in the areas of outdoor advertising, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services.
2006 revenues: $474 million
American Media holdings include magazines such as National Enquirer, Star, Globe, and Weider Publications, with fitness publications such as Shape and Muscle & Fitness.
American Media holdings include magazines such as National Enquirer, Star, Globe, and Weider Publications, with fitness publications such as Shape and Muscle & Fitness.
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