Overview of media industries (Film, TV, Radio, Animation, Games, Publishing, Advertising, and Public Relations)
Film Industry
- Film Production Companies: These are the organisations where films are conceived, created, and produced.
- Major Studios: These are big, often globally recognised companies like MGM, Disney, and Universal Studios. These companies may produce, distribute, and market films on a massive scale.
- Independent Studios: In contrast from major studios, these are smaller, more niche-based organisations that often focus on non-mainstream and art film production.
- Film Distribution: The process by which films are delivered to theatres and made available on other platforms such as DVD or streaming services.
- Box Office Receipts: This is the main contributor to a film's financial success. These are the total earnings from theatre admission tickets.
Television Industry
- Broadcast Television: Refers to traditional means of delivering content through terrestrial, satellite or cable networks.
- Streaming Platforms: Also referred to as over-the-top (OTT) services, these deliver TV shows directly to viewers through the internet. Examples include Netflix, Amazon Video, and Hulu.
- Public Broadcasting: Public service broadcasters such as the BBC are funded by the public through licensing fees, and strive to deliver a balanced and impartial news service, as well as educational and entertainment programming.
Radio Industry
- Broadcast Radio: Traditional radio services that can be received by AM/FM receivers.
- Digital Radio: This is a more recent technology that offers better sound quality and more station options than traditional broadcast radio.
- Podcasting: This is a form of audio broadcasting over the internet, allowing listeners to download and listen at their own convenience.
Animation Industry
- Traditional Animation: This is the oldest form of animation, in which each frame is drawn by hand.
- Computer Animation: The use of computer technology for the creation of animations. Pixar is one of the best-known examples of a computer animation studio.
- Motion Capture: An innovative animation technique where the movements of real actors are captured and used to animate digital character models.
Games Industry
- Console Gaming: This type of gaming is typically done on devices specifically made for game playing, like Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo consoles.
- PC Gaming: Games are designed specifically for and played on personal computers.
- Mobile Gaming: These games are played on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming: This is a new and growing section of the gaming industry, using specific technology to create a fully immersive gaming experience.
Publishing Industry
- Print Publishing: This includes books, newspapers, magazines and other printed materials.
- Digital Publishing: This term refers to materials that are published online. This can include e-books, online magazines, and websites.
- Self-Publishing: Due to the development of online platforms, authors are now able to publish their own work directly to consumers.
Advertising Industry
- Print Advertising: This refers to ads placed in printed media, such as newspapers, magazines, and billboards.
- TV and Radio Advertising: This refers to the commercials seen and heard on television and radio.
- Digital Advertising: This is a rapidly growing industry covering ads served through online platforms, such as banner ads, social media ads, and in-app ads. Includes the emerging field of influencer marketing.
Public Relations Industry
- Press Relations: This involves communication with journalists and media outlets to influence public perception of an individual or organisation.
- Crisis Management: This specific area of PR involves managing an organisation's response to a critical situation that could negatively impact its reputation.
- Corporate Communication: This covers all internal and external communication conducted by a company, including serving as the company's voice in official announcements and dealing with inquiries from the public and media.