No other guide covers the complete entertainment and media business like this exciting new volume—over 500 pages of business information. The global entertainment and media industry is in the midst of vast changes - giant mergers and acquisitions, new technologies and online services are changing the landscape. Globalization is affecting everything from recorded music to multimedia, from DVD sales to book publishing. Downloads via the Internet offer both challenges and new business opportunities.

What were the largest mergers? What are the hottest entertainment technologies? What lies ahead? Our market research section shows you the trends and a thorough analysis of such technologies as PVRs (personal video recorders), Internet television (IPTV), online subscription services, podcasting, film trends from animation to special effects, television advertising trends, video on demand (VOD) , recorded and downloaded music trends, convergence, online developments, finances and future growth within the industry. Included are major statistical tables showing such data as movie revenues at the box office and film industry royalties earned through DVDs and videos; total revenues by entertainment and media sectors; and the number of television viewing households and whether they access television via cable, satellite or other devices.

Meanwhile, the corporate profiles section covering Plunkett's Entertainment and Media Industry 400 Firms gives you complete profiles of the leading, fastest growing entertainment and media companies in America and around the world. From Bertelsmann and Walt Disney to entertainment retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, we profile the major companies that marketing executives, investors and job seekers most want to know about. (Our list includes leading U.S.-based companies, publicly and privately held, plus an impressive list of the most important foreign media firms.) These profiles include corporate name, address, phone, fax, web site, growth plans, competitive advantage, financial histories and up to 27 executive contacts by title.

This exciting new book (with database on CD-ROM) covers competitive intelligence, market research and business analysis--everything you need to know about the entertainment business, media business and television and radio industry, plus gambling, games and much more business information, including:

1. Analysis of major entertainment and media business trends and markets
   
2. Historical entertainment and media industry statistics and tables, from publishing to broadcasting and more
   
3. Profiles of major entertainment chain stores and online retailers, such as Amazon.com, Borders, GameStop and many more
   
4. Profiles of cable television and satellite television service companies of all types, from Comcast to Cablevision, from News Corporation to Time Warner
   
5. Emerging technologies, including video on demand, personal video recorders (PVRs) like TiVo, personal music players like iPod, downloads, video on demand (VOD), subscription services, Internet television (IPTV), and weblogs (blogs)
   
6. Profiles and trends of top publishing companies, including Gannett, Knight Ridder, and Belo Corp
   
7. Profiles and trends of leading music publishers and recording firms, such as Warner Music, Sony BMG
   
8. A discussion of trends in e-commerce, convergence and Internet-based entertainment
   
9. Profiles of leading broadcasters, from television companies such as Gray Television to leading radio companies like Clear Channel Communications
   
10. A discussion of trends and profiles of leading companies in electronic games and video games, such as Electronic Arts, and gambling and casino firms, such as Wynn Resorts, MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands.
    
11. Mergers and aquisitions, such as the creation of NBC Universal
    
12. The growth of satellite radio companies XM and Sirius, Internet radio, podcasting

You'll find a complete business overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. This book also includes statistical tables, an entertainment and media industry glossary, entertainment and media industry contacts and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 400 leading companies in all facets of entertainment and media, entertainment technologies and support services such as distribution. This book is available in printed, eBook and online versions. Purchasers may also receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM.

Reviews:

"A critically important reference book…Providing complete access to the U.S. entertainment and media industry…"
Midwest Review of Books.

"A uniquely accessible book; highly recommended for business and career collections."
Library Journal