Media Libraries in an Age of Unending Consumption: A Bottomless Pit

The book explores how media libraries have evolved since the home video era, becoming central to corporate media strategy. It examines the intersection of corporate media, independent distributors, private equity, tech companies, and audiences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

As the home video market revolutionized traditional film industry models, media libraries emerged as crucial sources of ancillary revenue. The pivotal moment for media library exploitation arrived in 2007, when Netflix launched its streaming service, relying on extensive licensing of film and television libraries to expand its subscriber base. In this comprehensive book, Mike Van Esler delves into the evolution of media libraries and business models since the home video era, with a special focus on the past fifteen years of the streaming age. Van Esler contends that media libraries have transcended their previous roles and have become integral to contemporary corporate media strategies. By examining the scale of media library exploitation since the turn of the new millennium, the author uncovers valuable insights into broader trends within the media industry. Ultimately, this book explores the intricate interplay between corporate media, independent distributors, private equity, technology companies, and audiences. Scholars of media studies, business, and sociology will find this book particularly insightful and valuable.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666927719