Vertical Integration in the Entertainment Industry and its Impact on Profit Participations- GHJ (2024)

Vertical Integration in the Entertainment Industry and its Impact on Profit Participations- GHJ (1)

BY Michael Sippel

POSTED ON February 23, 2017

CATEGORIES Media Clips

The definition of vertical integration is as follows: “The combination in one company of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate companies.”

Many of us are familiar with “vertical integration” and see it on a regular basis – most recognizably in the areas of communications and technology. For example, phone companies (such as Apple and Verizon) virtually perform every function of the supply chain, e.g. research and development, manufacturing of the product, purchasing of the phone towers, ownership of the retail stores, customer service, maintenance and monthly subscriptions, and processing – as well as offering additional communications services, such as internet and cable. Today, companies find growth and efficiency in being immersed across the supply chain.

Vertical Integration in Entertainment

While the world of entertainment – and especially its impact on profit participations – is less obvious than the examples above, its proliferation in the industry is just as poignant. Like other industries, consolidation within the entertainment industry continues for economies of scale and efficiency reasons. In terms of vertical integration structures, each studio appears to have a similar structure, such as 20th Century Fox, which produces and distributes its own television series and movies and licenses them on its affiliated network, and Fox Broadcasting Channel and its numerous basic cable channels: FX, FXM and FXX, as well as online platforms Fox.com, FX.com, etc.

Viacom owns Paramount and several well-known television stations such as BET, CMT, MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1. Time Warner owns Warner Brothers as well as HBO, Turner and The CW. Recent vertical integration examples include Lionsgate’s acquisition of Starz and Universal’s acquisition of Dreamworks Animation.

Other forms of vertical integration can be seen via Epix and Hulu, both of which are partially owned by several major studios, which often license them their own film and television properties. Also, related party “Internet/Online” and “On-Demand” exploitation may oftentimes create potential issues, as the agreements are sometimes unclear as to how such secondary rights and revenue streams should be accounted for, if at all.

Arguably the largest vertical integrator is the Walt Disney Company, which owns the companies that create and produce film and television properties, and are then marketed and distributed by Disney throughout the world, who therein broadcast on affiliated networks, such as ABC and other channels and platforms like ABC.com. The home videos are manufactured by Buena Vista Home Video, which is owned by Disney, and oftentimes shipped to Disney retail stores, along with significant forms of other consumer products such as toys, games, etc. and sold directly to the customers. Many of the products are found in Disney’s hotel, restaurants and theme parks.

Vertical Integration and Profit Participations

How does the trend toward consolidation and vertical integration impact the profit participants? What can we do to ensure “fair and reasonable” reporting of revenues and expenses between vertically integrated affiliated or related parties?

Our main concern is that the vertically integrated relationships could potentially either understate the revenues or overstate the deductions on the participation statement. When the payment effectively goes from “one pocket to the other,” there is an inherent risk of entering into business transactions which are not at “arm’s length.” When evaluating the underlying transaction, you should ask: “Had the studio licensed the same property in the same manner to an unrelated party, could it have earned more revenue?”

The most telling evidence of the significant impact vertical integration has on a profit participant was seen in the court’s decision to force Disney to pay Celador $319M in relation to the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire litigation. According to a Bloomberg article, “Buena Vista and ABC ‘through a complex web of self-dealing transactions’ allowed ABC to keep the advertising revenue and pay Buena Vista only a licensing fee equal to the cost of producing the show. That kept Buena Vista from earning a profit from ‘Millionaire’ that it would have had to share.”

While the participation agreements, which dictate the terms and conditions, may require the studio to be “fair and reasonablewhen dealing with affiliates” and “consistent with unrelated third parties,” such may not be properly adhered to, as the terms are ambiguous and extremely difficult to prove or disprove.

In the agreement negotiation phase, you should consider requiring approval of significant related party deals, specifying what documents are acceptable to confirm compliance with the related party “fair dealing” provisions or perhaps require that distribution fees be reduced or removed in connection with related party deals, if applicable.

Furthermore, you may wish to exercise your audit rights to review the details supporting related party transactions.

We hope the above was informative and helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions or we can assist in anyway.

Vertical Integration in the Entertainment Industry and its Impact on Profit Participations- GHJ (2024)

FAQs

How does vertical integration affect profit? ›

Not only does vertical integration increase profits from the newly acquired operations by selling its products directly to consumers, but it also guarantees efficiencies in the production process and cuts down on delays in delivery and transportation.

What is an example of vertical integration in the entertainment industry? ›

In terms of vertical integration structures, each studio appears to have a similar structure, such as 20th Century Fox, which produces and distributes its own television series and movies and licenses them on its affiliated network, and Fox Broadcasting Channel and its numerous basic cable channels: FX, FXM and FXX, as ...

What is the impact of vertical integration in this industry? ›

Vertical integration may lead to lower transportation costs, smaller turnaround times, or simpler logistics if the entire process is managed in-house. This may also result in higher quality products as the company has direct control over the raw materials used through the manufacturing line.

What is vertical distribution in the entertainment industry? ›

Vertical Integration is when a Media Company owns different businesses in the same chain of production and distribution. For example, a 20th Century Fox owns the studios in Hollywood, they also own the cinemas, the TV channels and the DVD rental shops.

What are some examples of vertical integration? ›

In economics, vertical integration is the term used to describe a business strategy in which a company takes ownership of two or more key stages of its supply chain. A vertically integrated automaker, for example, might produce automobile components and vehicles and also sell directly to customers.

What are the pros and cons of vertical integration? ›

Advantages of vertical integration include resilience to supply chain disruptions, market power, and economies of scale. Drawbacks of vertical integration include high costs, less flexibility, and loss of focus.

What is the most famous example of vertical integration? ›

Apple was the first company to reach a trillion-dollar evaluation, showcasing its dominance in the electronics industry. Apple is also one of the most significant vertical integration examples because the company has controlled the manufacturing and distribution of its products from the time it was founded.

What are the benefits of vertical integration? ›

7 benefits of vertical integration
  • Establishing independence. ...
  • Managing costs. ...
  • Creating economies of scale. ...
  • Increasing knowledge. ...
  • Improving marketability. ...
  • Maximizing market control. ...
  • Lowering prices. ...
  • Backward integration.
Feb 3, 2023

What media companies are vertically integrated? ›

Vertical Integration in Film

Vertical integration emerged in the film industry in the 1920s. By the 1930s the industry was dominated by five vertically integrated companies: Warner Brothers, Paramount, RKO, MGM and 20th Century Fox.

What are the three types of vertical integration? ›

There are three varieties of vertical integration: backward (upstream) vertical integration, forward (downstream) vertical integration, and balanced (both upstream and downstream) vertical integration.

What are three examples of segments of the entertainment industry and media industry? ›

The media and entertainment industry consists of film, television, radio and print. These segments include movies, TV shows, radio shows, news, music, newspapers, magazines, and books.

What are the three types of entertainment marketing? ›

‍What are popular entertainment marketing strategies? While there are many popular entertainment marketing strategies to help promote brands, some of the most effective include co-branding, celebrity endorsem*nt, and product placement.

Where is vertical entertainment located? ›

Where is Vertical Entertainment 's headquarters? Vertical Entertainment is located in Los Angeles, California, United States .

What is negative about vertical integration? ›

Disadvantages of vertical integration

Vertical mergers will have fewer economies of scale because production is at different stages of supply. Mergers can often create new problems of communication and coordination within the bigger more disparate firm.

What are the benefits of integration? ›

Here are the top six benefits and why we (and others in the industry) think integration should be your next big initiative.
  • Eliminate Error.
  • Real Reporting.
  • End-To-End Visibility.
  • Streamlined Processes.
  • Care About Customer Care.
  • Happier Teams.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of integration? ›

The advantages include increasing market share, reducing competition, and creating economies of scale. Disadvantages include regulatory scrutiny, less flexibility, and the potential to destroy value rather than create it.

How does vertical integration reduce cost? ›

Vertical integration allows a business to reduce costs by taking over more steps in the supply chain and thereby producing the supplies it needs rather than purchasing and transporting them from outside the company.

What is an example of an integration strategy? ›

Integration strategy examples

Stitchmade Apparel, a clothing design and manufacturing company, wants to lower manufacturing costs. It uses backward integration to buy the factory that provides the fabrics for its garments.

What are the 5 stages of vertical integration? ›

Key Takeaways

Vertical-integration is a strategy where a business undertakes control over various supply chain stages—raw material, production, distribution, sales, or customer support.

What type of strategy is vertical integration? ›

Vertical integration is a competitive strategy companies use to secure total control over the production process of a product. Any company that buys its own supply of raw materials for a product, along with the tools to make and transport that product in-house, employs vertical integration.

What are the two primary types of vertical integration What are they? ›

Vertical integration is the control of two adjacent stages in the vertical marketing channel from producers to consum- ers. An example would be one firm engaged both in cattle feeding and meatpacking. There are two primary types of vertical integration: contract integration and ownership inte- gration.

What are two examples of entertainment marketing strategies? ›

Some of the most popular entertainment marketing strategies include celebrity endorsem*nts, brand partnerships, and product placement.

How much does the entertainment industry contribute to the economy? ›

Approximately 6.9% of the total U.S. GDP comes from the Media and Entertainment industry.

How does the entertainment industry work? ›

The entertainment industry is a field of employment related to television, theater, film and music. Entertainment describes any production or artistic work that entertains an audience through creations like songs, theatrical shows or television broadcasts.

What are the 5 major categories of entertainment? ›

Becky: Those six categories are music, games, comedy, theater/cinema/performance, literature, and sport. Eric: Now, each of those different types of entertainment appeals more or less to different people. Beyond that, each one of these categories contains many different subcategories.

What are the 5 forms of entertainment? ›

It applies to every aspect of entertainment including cinema, television, radio, theatre, and music.

What are the benefits of entertainment marketing? ›

It revolves around partnerships between entertainment producers/organizations and brands in other industries, who often co-promote one another. Well-executed entertainment marketing will generate brand awareness and in turn monetize that interest.

Who owns vertical entertainment? ›

In 2012, Rich Goldberg & Mitch Budin founded Vertical, a film distribution company that releases films theatrically, through video on demand, and through home media.

Who is the CEO of vertical entertainment? ›

Rich Goldberg - President - Vertical Entertainment | LinkedIn.

How do I contact vertical entertainment? ›

Vertical Entertainment contact info: Phone number: (424) 238-4455 Website: www.vert-ent.com What does Vertical Entertainment do?

How did vertical integration help reduce costs? ›

Answer and Explanation: Vertical integration allows a business to reduce costs by taking over more steps in the supply chain and thereby producing the supplies it needs rather than purchasing and transporting them from outside the company.

Does vertical integration decrease prices? ›

The cross-sectional results suggest that vertically integrated theaters sold their tickets at lower prices than non-integrated theaters both when considering evening shows and matinee prices.

How does vertical integration affect transaction costs? ›

In this context, the vertical integration arises when an organization operates in several branches of the production chain in which it operates, in order to reduce transaction costs, minimize dependence on third parts and, in general, obtain better results.

Who benefits from vertical integration? ›

Vertical integration is the method by which an organization acquires or creates its own suppliers, manufacturers or distributors in an effort to manage its supply chain directly. Vertical integration offers many benefits to businesses, including the potential for economies of scale and increased market control.

What are the three vertical integration strategies? ›

There are three varieties of vertical integration: backward (upstream) vertical integration, forward (downstream) vertical integration, and balanced (both upstream and downstream) vertical integration.

What are 2 disadvantages of vertical integration? ›

Disadvantages of vertical integration
  • Vertical mergers will have fewer economies of scale because production is at different stages of supply.
  • Mergers can often create new problems of communication and coordination within the bigger more disparate firm.
Jul 23, 2021

How the company uses vertical integration to reduce competition and make the business more profitable? ›

Vertical integration is where a company controls everything from supply chains, manufacturing, to the end product/sale in order to preserve money. Carnegie was able to create sales without spending extra money on other manufacturing companies, therefore having a more profitable business than his competitors.

Is vertical integration rarely successful? ›

A strategy as risky as vertical integration can only succeed when it is chosen for the right reasons. Vertical integration is a risky strategy—complex, expensive, and hard to reverse.

What is the advantage of vertical integration and example? ›

Vertical integration may allow a company to set itself apart from its competitors. For example, a company that manufacturers electronics could establish itself as a retailer, providing an experience for its customers that its competitors cannot.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of integration strategy? ›

The advantages include increasing market share, reducing competition, and creating economies of scale. Disadvantages include regulatory scrutiny, less flexibility, and the potential to destroy value rather than create it.

How did vertical integration help consumers? ›

A key advantage for consumers is certainly the lower prices that come with vertical integration. By reducing costs on overhead, transportation, and other operational expenses, companies are often able to offer lower prices to attract customers.

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