Media convergence

Media Convergence

“The twenty-first century is when everything changes…”

Convergence

The occurrence of two or more things coming together.

The exam board requires that you be familiar with… Issues raised by media ownership in contemporary

media practice; The importance of cross-media convergence and

synergy, in production, distribution and marketing; The importance of technological convergence for

institutions and audiences;

Cross-media convergence Refers to two distinct concepts

Convergence of text and narrative across multiple media platforms to create Intermedial texts.

Convergence of industries. Businesses that once concentrated on only one media platform now concentrate on several.

Cross-media convergenceIntermedial texts

Cross-media convergenceIntermedial texts HOMEWORK PROJECT

Research and create a one-page collage or mind-map that shows how many different media Star Trek exists in. How many are owned or controlled by Paramount?

Cross-media convergenceIndustrial convergence Through merger and acquisition

Cross-media convergenceIndustrial convergence Through diversification

Cross-media convergenceIndustrial convergence Through diversification The digital provision of the BBC has created

many more outlets, but has it marginalised niche programming?

Cross-media convergenceIndustrial convergence

Cross-media convergenceIndustrial convergence

Synergy Where different entities cooperate

advantageously for a final outcome. The cooperative action of two or more

activities, resulting in a different or greater outcome than that of the individual activities.

Synergies between institutions are a long-established pattern in the media.

Now, thanks to convergence, synergy within institutions is also commonplace.

Synergy

The integration of products or institutions for mutual benefit.

Disney DVD Bethesda Softworks Disney records

Technological convergence

Once there were only Newspapers. Advertising Wax cylinders (then records, then CDs, then MP3s) Magazines Radio Cinema Television Videogames The Internet EACH CONSUMED ON A SEPARATE DEVICE.

Technological convergence

NOW… Your computer is also a DVD player, you can

take photographs and browse the web with your mobile phone etc.

In groups, create a mind-map that connects all the different ways in which these technologies overlap/converge.

What are the implications?