An introduction of the companies that are responsible for globalization is needed

Who are the top ten media giants?

Here is a list of the top ten media giants and how much money they can produce in a one year span. These companies are divided into two-tiers. There seems to be two things that determine how a company can break into the first tier. The first being annual sales, and second the variety of companies they own. The first-tier companies are:

TCI	$7 billion in sales	1996
News Corporation	$10 billion in sales	1996
Viacom	$13 billion in sales	1997
Bertelsmann	$15 billion in sales	1996
Disney	$24 billion in sales	1996
Time Warner	$25 billion in sales	1996

The second-tier companies are:

Universal	$5.7 billion in sales	1995
PolyGram	$6 billion in sales	1996
Sony	$ 50 billion in sales	1997
General Electric	$80 billion in sales	1996

How do these companies contribute to the spread of globalization?

In order to understand how these companies are contributing to the spread of globalization, it is necessary to look into what they are made of. It is then possible to see how powerful and influencial these media giants are and how it is possible that have control over the majority of the market.

Which company is good to analyze?

News Corporation is ranked 5^th in the first tier, however they posses the widest range of companies in the top-ten. News Corporation is often associated with Rupert Murdoch, one of the companies many owners. Murdoch's goal is "to own every form of programming-news, sports, films, and children's shows and beam them as they mark where the companies are based, and what type media service they provide. Keep in mind that the News Corporation via satellite or TV stations to homes in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America". I am positive that Murdoch's ambition does not stop here. Ted Turner views Murdoch in an Adolph Hitler persona. TCI's John Malone says, "it's all about trying to catch Rupert".

What companies do News Corporation own?

Pay close attention to the words that are highlighted in green and yellow, is the smallest of the companies on top.

News Corporation: American Company

132 newspapers (primarily in Australia, Britain, and the United States);

Twentieth Century Fox which is a major film, television, and video; production center, which has a library of over 2000 films to exploit;

U.S. Fox broadcasting network;

22 US television stations that covers 40percent of US television households;

25 magazines, most notably TV Guide;

Book-publishing interest, including HarperCollins;

50 percent stake with TCI's Liberty Media in several US global cable; networks, including fX, fXM, Fox Sports Net, Fox Channel;

Asian Star Television, satellite service and television channels;

Controlling interest in British Sky Broadcasting (BskyB) (40 percent) did 1.6 billion in sales 1996;

In BskyB News Corporation picks up a 40percent stake in UK's Granada Sky Television satellite channel group;

49.9 percent stake in Germany's Vox Channel;

30 percent in Sky Latin America digital satellite service;

40 percent stake in US Sky Television, a digital satellite joint venture with Echostar, and Concert;

50 percent stake in Japan Sky broadcasting digital satellite services;

Australian Foxtel Cable; 49.9 percentage in India's Zee TV;

The Spanish language El Canal Fox in Latin America;

UK sky Radio;

15 percent stake in the Australian Seven networks;

India Sky Broadcasting digital satellite service;

50 percent stake in channel V, Asian music video channel;

45 percent stake in Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Television Company;

Here is a list of companies News Corporation has equity joint ventures, equity interests, or long term exclusive strategic alliances with the following:

First-Tier media firms: Time Warner, Viacom, TCI, Universal, PolyGram, Sony, Bertelsmann;

Second-tier media firms: EMI, Canal Plus, Softbank, Granada, Globo, Televisa, MGM, BBC, Carlton;

Tele-Communication/information firms: Concert (BT-MCI);

You should have taken notice of the following.

News Corporation has companies in 8 different countries. These countries are America, Australia, China and other Asian countries, Germany, India, Japan, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. Add to this the plethora of communication, services, and technologies they own and one can begin to see how a handful of companies such as News Corporation can dominate the world market.

What is my point?

By analyzing the possessions of a company such as the News Corporation, it is then possible to see how a handful of companies can control our lives. Businesses such as these have become powerful enough to gain strong influence over their respective governments. Most of these giant corporations have aggressive over sea investment policies. This enables them to seize control of the world market, and create an oligopoly type market. This leads into their philosophy of having the least amount of government regulation. This also implies that they also do not approve of having the general public voice their opinions. This is why globalization is said to be a threat to democracy, and the beginning of government's loss of power.

Aspects to think about globalization:

These companies know that the general public enjoys entertainment and have invested heavily in entertainment sources. These include investments in books, movies, and music.

Because of advancement in technologies such as fiber optics, satellites, and the Internet, it will be easier for these companies to gain entry in to our homes.

Along with all of this new programming, we should realize that public relations people and advertisements geniuses have targeted their products to sell to us. This is happening in our schools, when we ride the bus, or watch the movies.

Be aware that these companies also cross sell. Take for example Disney. In addition to making millions off of a movie, they have their retail stores, theme parks, and deals with chains such as McDonalds to promote their movies.

There is competition between few. This means there is no competition and start- up companies don’t have a chance to get started unless they are invited to join one of the tiers.

As countries such as the U.S. get richer and exploit other countries, those other countries are falling behind in technology and will never be able to catch-up.

Question then becomes are we creating a global village or cultural pillage?

Class division within countries such as the U.S. is getting bigger. Soon there will be no middle class.

That’s all folks, but remember.

Big Brother is watching.

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