Media Industry Theories

• CURRAN AND SEATON'S POWER AND INDUSTRIES THEORY:

  The media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the logic of profit and power.

  Media concentration generally limits variety, creativity and quality.

  More socially diverse patterns of ownership would help create the conditions for more varied and adventurous media productions.
• HESMONDHALGH'S CULTURAL INDUSTRIES THEORY:

  the idea that cultural industry companies try to minimise risk and maximise audiences through vertical and horizontal integration, and by formatting their cultural products (e.g. through the use of stars, genres, and serials)

  the idea that the largest companies or conglomerates now operate across a number of different cultural industries
• LIVINGSTONE AND LUNT'S REGULATION THEORY:

  There is an underlying struggle in recent UK regulation policy between the need to further the interests of citizens (by offering protection from harmful or offensive material), and the need to further the interests of consumers (by ensuring choice, value for money, and market competition).