Michael O. Wirth

Handbook of Media Management and Economics

Contents: Preface. Part I: Theoretical Dimensions in Media Management and Economics. A.B. Albarran, Historical Trends and Patterns in Media Management Research. R.G. Picard, Historical Trends and Patterns in Media Economics. B.I. Mierzejewska, C.A. Hollifield, Theoretical Approaches in Media Management Research. S.S. Wildman, Paradigms and Analytical Frameworks in Modern Economics and Media Economics. B.A. Cherry, Regulatory and Political Influences on Media Management and Economics. Part II: Issues in Media Management and Economics. J.W. Redmond, Issues in Human Relations Management. R.J. Rizzuto, Issues in Financial Management. S.M. Chan-Olmsted, Issues in Strategic Management. A.A. Reca, Issues in Media Product Management. R.A. Gershon, Issues in Transnational Media Management. W.S. McDowell, Issues in Marketing and Branding. S.M. Chan-Olmsted, Issues in Media Management and Technology. P.M. Napoli, Issues in Media Management and Public Interest. D.A. Ferguson, Industry-Specific Management Issues. H. van Kranenburg, A. Hogenbirk, Issues in Market Structure. J. Dimmick, Media Competition and Levels of Analysis. T. Chambers, H.H. Howard, The Economics of Media Consolidation. D. Waterman, The Economics of Media Programming. B.J. Bates, K.S. Albright, Issues in Network/Distribution Economics. M.O. Wirth, Issues in Media Convergence. A. SAnchez-Tabernero, Issues in Media Globalization. P. Graham, Issues in Political Economy. Part III: Analytical Tools in Media Management and Economics. R.A. Beam, Quantitative Methods in Media Management and Economics. G. Doyle, S. Frith, Methodological Approaches in Media Management and Media Economics Research. C.A. Hollifield, A.J. Coffey, Qualitative Research in Media Management and Economics. G.W. Ozanich, Media Finance and Valuation. P.F. Phalen, Audience Research and Analysis. Part IV: Future Directions in Media Management and Economics. D. Shaver, M.A. Shaver, Directions for Media Management Research in the 21st Century. S. Lacy, J.M. Bauer, Future Directions for Media Economics Research. D.H. Goff, Global Media Management and Economics.

The Effects of Market Structure on Television News Pricing.

This study of local television news advertising prices finds: (1) that cable penetration has a significant negative effect on news prices; (2) that market concentration has a significant positive impact; and (3) that station ownership type has little or no effect on such prices.

Cable's economic impact on over‐the‐air broadcasting

The author argues that cable industry is having increasingly negative impact on broadcast television as its power in both the programing and advertising markets increase. Cable system operaters are having increasing incentives to drop or refuse to add broadcast stations or to relocate them to less desirable channel locations as a means of improving their performance in the markets. The author warns that current trends could be harmful to many broadcast stations, but he is especially pessimistic about the future of independent UHF stations.

The Economics of Video On Demand: A Simulation Analysis

Simulation analysis and sensitivity analysis are used to identify the factors most likely to determine whether video on demand (VOD; i.e., movies on demand) is economically viable. The impact of subscription video on demand (SVOD) and of time-shifted, on-demand services on VOD economics is also explored. VOD movie buy rates, Hollywood and cable operator revenue splits, and VOD peak utilization rates are identified as key economic viability factors. SVOD and/or time-shifted services could also contribute positively to VOD economics if significant buy rates can be achieved without major impacts on peak utilization rates.

The demand for pay service on cable television

Abstract A probability model is developed for consumer choice among three television programming options, free over-the-air television, basic cable television service, and pay cable serve which consists of basic service plus a single channel of premium entertainment programming. Estimating equations for the demand for pay service are derived from the probability model and then estimated by applying regression techniques to data from a large sample of U.S. cable systems. The estimated parameters of the demand equation show that the demand for pay service is affected by the prices charged for both basic and pay service, by demographic characteristics of the households served by a cable system, and by the quality of programming offered on both basic and pay services. The demand estimates suggest that the introduction of pay service has substantially enhanced the likelihood of profitable operation for cable systems in major television markets.

Public Interest Program Performance of Multimedia-Owned TV Stations

Analysis of FCC reports shows group-owned and multimedia-owned stations have at least as much news and public affairs programming as other stations.

Broadband Convergence: Future Directions and Societal Impacts

This article provides a nonquantitative social benefits and costs framework for discussing the impact of converged broadband networks on society. Societal benefits discussed include choice, control, convenience, competition, community and connectivity, education, democratization, audience feedback and product improvement, economic growth, telework, multitasking skills, and regulation. Discussion of societal costs focuses on privacy and security, intellectual property and piracy, social isolation and human interaction, journalistic standards, telework, the digital divide, globalization, mass content, community decline, desensitization to violence, audience fragmentation, regulation, and workplace productivity.

Deregulation of commercial TV in the USA: Control by government or market

Following the FCCs decision to partially deregulate radio, attention is now focusing on the possibility of television deregulation. The authors review the radio deregulation decision and apply similar criteria to television. Debate centres around government v marketplace control; the extent to which stations meet FCC standards for information, local and total non-entertainment programming; and, the effect of deregulation on provision of non-entertainment programming. The real question is when should deregulation take place. The authors suggest that the FCC and Congress should pave the way for deregulation by encouraging competition.

Household‐level demand for cable television: A probit analysis.

The authors explore demand for cable services in individual households and find that the quality of over‐the‐air reception, interest in nonprogramming entertainment services, and service quality directly affect that demand. The study also explores demographic and behavioral differences in demand for basic and pay services and outlines their implications for cable systems operators.

Demand for sex-oriented cable TV in the USA: Community acceptance and obscenity law

This pooled cross-sectional/time series analysis focuses on individual consumer demand for sex-oriented pay cable programming using data obtained from Coaxial Cable in Columbus, OH. The results suggest that adult movies garnered more demand from pay-per-view subscribers than any other type of programme offered, indicating that sex- oriented cable movies has achieved a reasonable degree of community acceptance. These results are not very encouraging for those who would like to see adult content of this type eliminated from cable television.