ELE 3718 Media Economics

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

ELE 3718 Media Economics


Responsible for the course
Mona K Solvoll

Department
Department of Communication - Culture and Languages

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
This course deals with topics related to marketing, market communication, public relations, business and management.

Learning outcome
Acquired Knowledge
Students shall develop a basic understanding of how the media industry is organized, its business practices, operations, content and technology and policy regulation. Furthermore students will acquire an industry- perspective on both traditional media sectors as well as the digital media.

Acquired Skills
Students shall be able to describe and explain the debates between different economic theories on current media issues as well as the major economic changes that have taken place. They shall be able to apply interpretations of research and economic theories in explaining media opportunities and risks for business enterprises as well as regards marketing and public relations.

Reflection
The students shall develop an understanding of the key mechanisms in media economics and in an ethical perspective make a judgement of how these influence the media market and the media output.

Prerequisites
None

Compulsory reading
Books:
Doyle, Gillian. 2013. Understanding media economics. 2. edition. Sage. 232 pages

Articles:
Online articles:. Available from databases at the BI library.
Picard, R. 2005: Unique Characteristics and Business Dynamics of Media Products. Journal of Media Business Studies, 2(2), 61-69.9 pages, available from http://www.jombpagecom/articles/2005224.pdf
Bakker, Piet. 2002: Free Daily Newspapers – Business models and strategies (8 pages). Available from http://www.newspaperinnovation.com/overview/files/JMM_4_3_Bakker.pdf
Picard, van der Wurff and Piet Bakker (2008): Economic Growth and Advertising Expenditures in different countries, 25 pages, available from http://www.robertpicard.net/files/econgrowthandadvertising.pdf
Johnsen, Hallvard og Mona Solvoll. 2007. Demand for television sport. European Sport Management Quarterly. 4:7. 311-335, 24 pages.
Available from databases at the BI library.
Eisenmann et al. (2006): Strategies for two- sided markets, Harward Business Review, 11 pages.


Other:

Articles/ chapters available as e-books:.
Doyle, Gillian. 2002: Media Ownership. Available from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/bilibrary/home.action and as google book http://books.google.com/books/about/Media_ownership.html?id=p8iNIUlAPDMC
- Chapter 2 Media Concentrations and pluralism, page 11-30, 19 pages,
- Chapter 3 Industrial and Economic Policy Aims, page 30- 43, 13 pages
Albarran, Alan B.,Chan-Olmsted, Sylvia M. and Wirth, Michael O. 2006. Handbook of media management and economics. Available from http://www.dawsonera.com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9781410615589
- Chapter 14 page 297-324; 17 pages, industry- specific management issues
- Chapter 15 page 325- 345; 20 pages, Issues in market structures
- Chapter. 22 page 493- 523; 30 pages, Issues in political economy and
- Chapter 20 page 445-463; 18 pages, Issues in convergence

Collection of articles in compendium. Handelshøyskolen BI. (144 pages).
Shapiro and Varian.2000: Information Rules - a strategic guide to the Network Economy
- Chapter 3 Versioning Information, page 57-84, 28 pages
- Chapter 7 Networks and Positive Feedback, page 173-225, 53 pages
Caves, Richard E. 2000: Creative Industries: Contracts between Art and Commerce, Harvard University Press
- Introduction, 17 pages
- Chapter 8 The Nurture of Ten-Ton Turkeys, page 136- 145, 10 pages
Gaustad, Terje. 2002: The Problem of Excludability for Media and Entertainment Products in New Electronic Market Channels. Electronic Markets, volume 12, issue 4, 5 pages
Vogel, Harold L. 2011: Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis (7th Edition), Cambridge University Press
- Chapter 1 Economic Perspective, 19 pages
- Chapter 2 Basic Elements, 12 pages



Recommended reading
Books:
Albarran, Alan B. 2010. The media economy. Routledge. 200

Course outline

  • Introduction to media economics - key characteristics of the media (Macro- and microeconomics, the firm, competitive market structures)
  • Public goods versus private goods (Business models for television (PSB, commercial, Pay per view) and news production (online and print))
  • Old and new supply chains in media – co-production with customers (Growth strategies, convergence, expansion and integration, produsage in content-driven media)
  • Economics of media firms - “a market point of view” or “a social policy point of view” (The advertising industry, public policy and consumer choices)
  • Characteristics of major media sectors (Television, print and internet)
  • Digital media economics (Business models, transaction cost theory, windowing, rights)
  • The global media economics – when Mecom came to Norway (Media ownership, media houses, technological and cultural constrains and opportunities)

Computer-based tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.

Learning process and workload
Teaching takes place throughout the semester organized as lectures (30 hours) and seminars (15 hours).

The lectures will cover important issues and theories of the field. The seminars will provide an arena for focussed discussion of these issues and theories. Attendance at the seminars is required and students are expected to analyse and present two cases.

Recommended workload in hours:
Activity
Hours
Attending lectures
30
Preparation for lectures
45
Seminars
15
Preparation for seminars with presentations
30
Self-study/reading literature
80
Take-home exam
50
Total recommended use of time
200


    Examination
    A 72-hour take home examination concludes the course.
    The home examination is given over an assigned topic and can be solved individually or in groups of no more than three students. The home examination accounts for 100% of the course grade.


    Examination code(s)
    ELE 37181 - 72-hours take-home examination, counts for 100% towards the final grade in ELE 3718 Media Economics, 7.5 credits.

    Examination support materials
    All support materials are permitted.
    Examination support materials at written examinations are specified under exam information in our web-based Student handbook. Please note the use of calculator and dictionary. http://www.bi.edu/studenthandbook/examaids


    Re-sit examination
    A re-sit will be possible in connection with the next scheduled course.

    Additional information
    Bachelor of Media Management and Jounalism:
    JOU 3548 Economic and development in media replaced by ELE 3718 Media Economics