The Sector Edition: Computer Games

Continuing on from animation, computer games (or video games) are a major component within the global media industry.

Gaming was once seen as a small activity that was enjoyed and explored more seriously by a smaller proportion of audiences, however gaming's popularity has really launched which has paved the way for more 'casual' games.

This sector has since become more profitable than the DVD industry.

The top five biggest video game companies are;
- Activision
- Electronic Arts
- Nintendo
- Sony
- Capcom

Popular computer games;
- Grand Theft Auto (Collection)
- Call of Duty
- Halo
- Left 4 Dead
- Assassins Creed 
- Resident Evil
- Mortal Kombat
- Mario Kart
- The Sims

Animation is a major component within the computer game industry.

The Sector Edition: Animation

   

Animation is vital to a range of other media sectors such as;

- TV

- Film

- Video Games

- Interactive Media

- Adverts

- Marketing

It's a brilliant and useful technique for TV, adverts and film to use within productions as well as being used for special effects.

Video games are based on and created with the use of animation, a virtual reality. It's engaging and immerses the player. 

Main animation companies are;

- Dreamworks (Owned by Paramount)

- Pixar (Owned by Disney)

Disney in general are primarily an animation company besides being the provider of Pixar.

Warner Bros. gave us Bugs Bunny, Tweety Pie, Daffy Duck and Sylvester in the form of Looney Tunes.

Kids television shows are usually animated also, the likes of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney Junior.

Like in film, there are smaller companies who have still gained success, a clear example is the UK's Aardman Animations, responsible for the creation of Wallace & Gromit.

The Sector Section: Film

It's no secret that the film industry is one of the largest sectors of the media as well as the most profitable. In the UK alone, 27,800 people are employed within this industry. 62% are employed in exhibition, 34% in production and 4% in distribution.

Within the film, there are 6 different vital components. These are;

- Development

- Production

-Facilities

- Distribution

- Exhibition

- Export

There are a few major companies that dominate the film industry and have done for many years, gaining such popular success.

- Paramount

- Universal

- 21st Century Fox

- Disney

These multimillion pound companies are mostly responsible for the big blockbusters due to their higher budgets and higher financial backing that is used to produce and promote said films.

However, some smaller companies have still managed to gain a fantastic reputation, because everyone has to start at the bottom and work up, right? Pinewood Studios, a small British company have produced all of the ever popular Carry On films, Victor Victoria, Little Shop of Horrors (1985) and Full Metal Jacket. In 2001they merged with Shepperton Studios and went on to produce films such as Alexander, The Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Casino Royale, Prometheus and Skyfall.

Primarily, smaller film companies produce smaller cult-film, and in some case become successful, popular films.

The Sector Section: Radio

Radio. Radio is one of the oldest forms of mass media that is still popularly used worldwide to this day. In this day and age, it transmits sound based media to various forms of devices such as; stereos, television, electronic devices (tablets, mobile phones, mp3 players,computers) and the internet.

Sadly with the advance of technology in the past 15 years, we've seen a decline in actual radio players and stereos being used for a radio purpose. Most people will take to listening via their mobiles on the bus to work or listening online whilst in college. It's much more practical and portable today.

For those who don't know about the different types of radio stations and the sections of this media, I'll briefly highlight the differences in your favourite stations.

There are; - Publicly funded radio which is payed by the taxpayers. Much like television and the television license, the BBC radio stations are funded by its audience.

- Commercial radio are the types that are funded by the advertisements they play, such as; Real Radio, Rock FM, Century and Capital.

- Community and voluntary radio is what is hosted by hospitals, college/uni etc that are in place for the community in which it is broadcast.

Which radio stations do you like to frequent?

The Sector Section: Television

Television is one of the biggest sectors (and very competitive) within the media industry which employs over 500,000 British people.

There are many small broadcasters that control the television shows we view daily, however there are a few bigger companies who dominate large chunks of the stations hence the reason there are channels with '+1' or another variation of the original channel.

These main broadcasters are; 

- BBC - The BBC is a public company which is funded by the TV license

- ITV - ITV is a private company funded by advertisements. It is 60% owned by ITV PLC as well as being owned by STV Group PLC (Scotland) and UTV (Northern Ireland).

- Channel 4 - This is a private company, funded by advertising.

- Channel 5 - This is also a private company, owned by Northern & Shell.

The BBC own 9 channels in total such as BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, Cbeebies, BBC Parliament, BBC News, BBC Alba.

ITV own; ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV and The Store as well as all of the '+1' channels.

Channel 4 own; Channel 4, 4seven, Film4, E4, More4, 4music, Box Television and '+1' channels.

Channel 5 own; Channel 5, 5*, 5 USA and the '+1'  (and +24) channels. 

I hope that was informative enough and didn't bore you to tears! It's quite interesting finding out how television is sub-categorised and part own by different companies and corporations.