Heads of US Mega Media Conglomerates

 

The Media & Entertainment segment matters as it both mirrors and creates culture.

The Media & Entertainment landscape in the United States is shaped by just four mega-media conglomerates (aka Media Groups):

 

  • Disney (ABC, ESPN, Pixar, Marvel, purchased most of 21 st Century Fox in 2019 1 , fully controls Hulu though Comcast is a 33% silent partner)

  • Comcast (which purchased NBC Universal in 2013 2 , includes Telemundo, Universal)

  • AT&T (merged with Time Warner in 2019 3 , includes CNN and HBO)

  • Paramount Global (includes Paramount, Viacom and CBS) 4

These Top 4 mega media conglomerates are headed in total by six people.

 

Disney:

  • Chairman of the Board Susan Arnold

  • CEO Bob Chepak

Comcast:

  • CEO and Chairman of the Board Brian L. Roberts

AT&T:

  • Independent Chairman of the Board William E. Kennard

  • CEO and Board Member John Key Stanke

Paramount:

  • President and CEO Robert Bakish

 
 

Heads of US Mega Media Conglomerates

1 out of 6 = 17%

 

Top 4 Mega Media Conglomerates in 2020, and What They Own

The Walt Disney Company Comcast AT&T Paramount Global
Movie production Walt Disney Studios, UTV Motion Pictures (India) Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Warner Bros. Pictures Group Paramount Pictures Motion Groups
TV production Disney TV Studios, It's a Laugh Productions, Disney TV Animation, FX Productions, Freeform Productions NBC Universal Content Studios, Sky Studios, DWA Television WB TV Group, WB Animation, WBITVP, Cartoon Network Studios Paramount TV Studios, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, CBS Films, CBS Studios
Broadcast TV network ABC, Localish (US); RTL Zwei (15.75% DE) NBC, Cozi TV, Sky, Telemundo, TeleXitos The CW (50%) CBS, The CW (50%), Chilevision
Cable channels Disney Channels, UTV net, A&E Networks (50%), Fox Nets Groups, Freeform, FX Networks, NatGeo Net (73%) NBC Universal Cable, Sky TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network, HBO Paramount Domestic Media Networks, Paramount International Networks
News, business channels/operations ABC News, ABC News Radio NBC Universal News Group, Sky News CNN, HLN CBS News, CBS News streaming service
National sports networks/operations ESPN Inc. (80%) NBC Sports Group, Sky Sports, NHL Network (15.6%) Turner Sports, AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (16%), NBA TV CBS Sports
Audio industry ABC Audio, Disney Music Group, Marvel New Media, Radio Disney Networks Back Lot Music WaterTower Music Comedy Central Records, Nickelodeon Records, Paramount Music
Publishing Marvel Comics, National Geographic (73%), Disney Publishing Worldwide DC Comics, MAD Magazine
Internet Disney Online, Disney Digital Network Fandango (70%) Fandango(30%), Otter Media MTV New Media
Telecommincations Xfinity, Sky Broadband At&T Communications
Video games Disney Games and Interactive Experiences, Marvel Games, Lucasfilm Games Universal brand Developement Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Rooster Teeth Games, Adult Swim Games Paramount Digital Entertainment
2020 Revenues Disney: US$ 65.39 Billion NBC Universal: US$: 34.32 Billion WarnerMedia: US$30.4 Billion Paramount: US$25.29
 

Top Media Conglomerates in 2019, and What They Own

Comcast Walt Disney Co. (USA) Viacom (USA) CBS Corporation (USA) AT&T (USA)
Movie production studio Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Walt Disney Studios, UTV Motion Pictures (India) Paramount Motion Pictures Group CBS Films Warner Bros. Pictures Group
TV production Universal Television, Universal Content Project, Disney Television Studios, It's a Laugh Productions, Disney TV Animation FX Productions, ProdCo, Inc., Marvel TV Paramount Television CBS Televisions Studios WB TV Group, WB Animation, WBITVP, Cartoon Network Studios
Broadcast TV network NBC, Cozi TV (US); Telemundo, TeleXitos ABC, LWN, Super RTL (50% Germany) CBS, The CW (50%), Decades (JV) Chilevision, The CW (50%)
Cable channels NBCUniversal Cable, Sky Disney Channels Worldwide, Freeform, FX Networks, National Geographic Global Networks (73%), A&E Networks (50%) Viacom Media Networks Pop, Showtime Networks TBS, TNT, TruTV, HBO
News, business channels/operations NBCUniversal News Group ABC News, ABC News Radio CBS News, CBSN CNN, HL
National sports networks/operations NBC Sports Group, NHL Network (15.6%) ESPN Inc. (80%) CBS Sports Turner Sports AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (16%), NBA TV
Music industry Back Lot Music Disney Music Group Comedy Central Records, Nick Records CBS Records WaterTower Music
Publishing Marvel Comics, Disney Publishing Worldwide Simon & Shuster DC Comics, MAD Magazine
OTT Hulu (33%) Disney+, (67%), ESPN+, Hoststar, Marvel Unlimited Pluto TV CBS All Access Crunchyroll, DC Universe, DirectTV Now, HBO Now
Internet Fandango (70%) MTV New Media CNET Fandango (30%), Otter Media
Video games Universal Brand Development Disney Games and Interactive Experiences, LucasArts Paramount Digital Entertainment Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Rooster Teeth Games
2018 Revenues NBCUniversal: US$33 Billion
Source		 US$59.4 Billion
Source		 US$13 Billion
Source		 US$14.5 Billion
Source		 WarnerMedia: US$31.5 Billion
Source

According to Business Insider:

 

In 1984, fifty independent media companies owned the majority of media interests within the United States. By 2011, 90% of the United States’ media was controlled by six media conglomerates:

Lutz, Ashley (14 June 2012). "These 6 Corporations Control 90% of the Media in America". Business Insider. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

This type of intense consolidation almost invariably reduces participation of women at the top ranks of mega-institutions.

The top global media mega corporations, which include the above US giants as well as Sony (Japan), Bertelsmann (Germany), Vivendi (France) and Liberty Global (US/UK/NZ) also show overwhelmingly male leadership at the top levels.

 

What will it take for women to get into the Power Percentage in The Mega Media Conglomerates?

 
 
 
MediaLydia Swan