The ways in which we receive our entertainment and information are diverse and constantly changing. Top media giants that provide these services are in an ongoing battle for the top spots. So, who are the 10 largest media companies in the world?
Although looking at the conglomerates can muddy up the water a bit, we can do some investigation to get to the bottom of who is behind the media we enjoy.
As media personality Rupert Murdoch puts it, “The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.”
With that in mind, let’s dive in and see who is bringing us our news and entertainment at the moment, and the media sectors they are involved in.
#10: FOX Corporation
To begin our list of the 10 largest media companies in the world, we have a name that most people will recognize. This new “leaner” version of the FOX media powerhouse founded in 2019 by Rupert Murdoch, provides news, sports, business, and other entertainment outlets.
With Disney’s acquisition of 20th and 21st Century Fox (excluding the Twentieth Century Studio lot) in 2017, the long association with the Fox name and film came to an end.
This all-new FOX Corp. does not have a movie production asset just yet, as its focus is mainly on television genres and the internet. FOX Corporation’s company headquarters are located in New York, New York, U.S. The companies’ stock is traded on the Nasdaq as FOXA, FOX (class A and class B).
#9: Warner Bros. Discovery
Founded in April of 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery is no lightweight and is the youngest member of our list. Their media outlets include Warner Bros film and television studios, DC Entertainment, HBO (includes Cinemax), Turner Broadcasting, TNT, and CNN.
Warner Bros. Discovery has a broad reach in the media world. The company provides film and television, comic books, music, video games, and web portals. They also reach sports fans in auto racing, MLB, NBA, and golf networks. They have a hand in the food genre as well, with “The Food Network” and “The Food Channel.”
Warner Bros Discovery is headquartered in New York, New York, U.S., and is led by David Zaslav its president and CEO. The companies’ stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as WBD (class A) as well as an S & P 500 component.
#8: Liberty Global
Liberty Global is a multinational media company with headquarters in London, Denver, and Amsterdam, and was founded in Denver, CO, U. S., in 2005.
They specialize in telephony, internet, mobile, cable television, and satellite services. Its popular DirectTV is the flagship service of the company. With operations in 18 countries, and connecting 23 million homes, Liberty Global has the potential to move up the ranks of the 10 largest media companies in the future.
Company stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as (LBTYA)
#7: DISH Network
Originally formed as EchoStar in 1980, the company became DISH Network in 1998 (an acronym for Digital Sky Highway). DISH features wireless mobile, paid television, and pay-per-view services for its customers.
Although focusing mainly on satellite services, DISH began implementing over-the-top (OTT) services to bypass satellite, broadcast, and cable. This OTT service allows streaming to PCs, and apps for smartphones, smart TVs, digital media players, or game consoles.
Dish Network is headquartered in Meridian, Colorado, U.S. The companies’ stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as DISH (class A).
#6: Naspers Limited
Naspers is a South African media company founded in 1915. Their media interests include books, magazines, and newspapers. Through the Eighties, Naspers diversified into television and markets outside South Africa.
Today, Naspers owns 56.92% of internet conglomerate Prosus, and is the sole owner of Media24, the largest publisher in Africa. Naspers is an excellent example of a large media company that has grown with the changes in technology and media over the years.
The companies’ stocks are traded on the JSE, the largest stock exchange in Africa as NPN. Trading is also available on the LSE as NPSN.
#5: Paramount Global
Paramount Global began doing business in December 2019, under the direction of Shari Redstone and Bob Bakish. Along with books, films, music, television, and web portals, Paramount also has interests in amusement parks.
Coming in at number five on the list of largest media companies in the world, Paramount is a historical giant in the industry, including Paramount Pictures (its namesake), CBS Group, MTV, BET, CMT, and Showtime, just to name a few.
Paramount boasts an impressive 700+ million customers in 180 countries, putting it in the top 5 out of 10 largest media companies in the world. Paramount stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as PARAA, and PARA (class A and B).
#4: Netflix
For anyone not living under a rock or in a cave, it’s safe to say they’ve probably heard of this media streaming and production monster. Netflix began operations in 1997 with DVD sales and rental through the mail. By 2007, the company had moved to video-on-demand and streaming media. Netflix uses the OTT platform mentioned earlier in the article.
It’s pretty easy to figure out what Netflix does, unlike other members on the list, because they have a simple, direct service plan – give customers entertainment, movies, and originals, through streaming media, paid television, and video on demand.
Netflix is available globally and has a subscription base of over 220 million worldwide. Their streaming services can be accessed on PCs, tablet computers, mobile phones, smart TVs, game consoles, and more. Company stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as NFLX. The company is headquartered in Los Gatos, CA, U.S.
#3: Charter
At number three, we go to the other end of the spectrum from Netflix when it comes to what they actually do. Charter has their hands in a little bit of everything, from cable TV, digital cable, HDTV, internet, and VoIP phones.
Founded in 1993 in St. Louis, Charter, now headed up by CEO Tom Rutledge and Vice Chairman John Bickham since 2012, moved into the third spot as the largest pay television company by acquiring Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in 2016.
The company provides services to 25 million customers in 41 U.S. states.
In 2013, Charter made the move to fiber optics and re-branded the service as Charter Spectrum. Charter Communication stocks are traded on the Nasdaq as CHTR (class A). Charter also has a Nasdaq-100, S & P 100, and S & P 500 component.
#2: The Walt Disney Company
but has since expanded to movies, television,
and theme parks.Disney came on the scene in 1923, the brainchild of brothers Walt and Roy Disney. They created this now iconic company based in the animation industry with their mascot and beloved character “Mickey Mouse.” Headquartered in Burbank, California, Team Disney Building, Walt Disney Studios, this mega-media giant came from humble beginnings.
From comic strips and cartoons, the Disney brand now controls interests in theme parks, movies, comic books, music, television, video games, and web portals.
Disney has made some bold moves and pioneered technology in many fields. Moving from animation to live-action films, then on to television and over-the-top interactive theme park rides. After Walt’s death in 1966, followed by a slowing period of growth, the “Disney Renaissance” began in 1984 led by new leader Michael Eisner, their acquisitions have been too numerous to list.
Disney stocks trade on NYSE as DIS, and the company holds the 53rd spot on the Fortune 500 list in 2022.
#1: Comcast Corporation – At the Top of the 10 Largest Media Companies in the World
The company was founded in 1963, in Tupelo, Mississippi, as American Cable Systems, then in 1969 moved its headquarters to Philadelphia, PA, U.S. The company was renamed Comcast and is now the “Big Daddy” of media companies. With offices in Manchester, New Hampshire, Atlanta, New York, Denver, and Detroit, Comcast Corporation is a behemoth player on the media scene.
Holding the number one spot on our list of the 10 largest media companies in the world is no easy task. For Comcast though, one of the biggest problems they have may be being “too” big. The company has faced a lot of pushbacks over the years from antitrust regulators.
With that said, let’s take a look at Comcast’s operations and services to get a profile of just how they control the number one seat at the media table.
To start, Comcast owns the largest pay television company, the largest cable television company, and the largest residential internet company in the U.S. This includes national channels like NBC and Telemundo.
In the cable channel space, the company owns the likes of MSNBC, USA, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, and others. Universal Studios is the star of Comcast’s film division, and in the animation sector, they feature Universal Animation, Illumination, and Dreamworks.
It’s easy to see with all these top names in media, how Comcast controls the number one spot. One other very impressive component of the company’s brand is the Universal Theme Parks and Resorts operating around the world, featuring themes from all their media greats.
Comcast is traded on the Nasdaq as CMCSA (class A).
What’s Next for the Media Industry?
The 10 companies listed in this article are the biggest and most influential in the world and they’re likely to continue to play a major role in the way we consume news, information, and entertainment in the years to come. But it’s important to remember that as large and influential as they are, these companies are not immune to change. While it’s likely that they will continue to shape the industry in the near future, only time will tell what the media industry — and the major players — will look like as technology and the way we consume media evolves.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Toria/Shutterstock.com.