This topic examines the ever changing landscape of media distribution from traditional broadcast, cable and print distribution methods to online distribution across the media spectrum. Not only has the internet changed the way mass media is distributed and consumed, it has affected corporate advertising, marketing, public relations, consumer analytics, and internal content distribution. This topic gives students a basic understanding of media distribution methods, past and present.
////////// TRADITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
Key concepts / terms
Types of traditionally distributed media: Newspapers & Magazines (Print), Movies/Cinema, Music, Radio, Television, Corporate Media ♦ Broadcast TV & Radio networks ♦ Cable TV networks ♦ Local TV & Radio stations ♦ Network Affiliates ♦ Satellite TV & Radio ♦ Syndication ♦ Primetime ♦ Nielsen Ratings ♦ Corporate Media Teleconferencing ♦ Publicity/Public Relations ♦ Satellite Media Tours ♦ Business Television
Resources
- How a Broadcasting Network Defines the TV and Radio Business – by Glenn Halbrooks at About.com
- Brief History of TV – from the Archive of American Television, focusing on TV programming
- Difference Between a TV Station and a TV Network – from eHow
- How to Understand Neilsen Ratings – from About Money
- What is Satellite TV? – from WiseGEEK
- Home Depot: Communicating with Employees While Maintaining Corporate Culture by Carol Patton, from SatelliteToday.com
- Walmart TV Studio A – a peek into Walmart’s Business TV studio
////////// WEB BASED DISTRIBUTION
Key concepts / terms
Types of web distributed media: YouTube Channels, Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, Amazon TV, Online Print Media, Streaming TV & Radio ♦ Corporate Webcasting ♦ New Media Tools
Resources
- “Serial” — Episode 1: The Alibi – Podcast by WBEZ Chicago
- “High Maintenance” — Jamie– Web series by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair
- “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” — Episode 1: The Stop Sign” – Web series by Issa Rae
- Are YouTubers Revolutionizing Entertainment? – Video from PBS’ OffBooks series
- Outside the Box: Netflix and the future of television – New Yorker article by Ken Auletta
- Youtube Pitches Itself as the Advertising Medium of the Future – Deadline Hollywood article by David Leiberman
- How Nielsen Measures Twitter TV Audiences CNBC article by Julia Boorstil
- A (Very) Basic Twitch User’s Guide – New York Times video by Carrie Halperin
- Who says Print is Dead? – by Mark Hooper, The Guardian
- Grappling with the Culture of Free in Napster’s Aftermath – New York Times video & article by Clyde Haberman
