The Other Hollywood: the Organizational and Geographic Bases of Television-Program Production

• Published in: Media, culture & society Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 183 - 205
• Main Author: Scott, Allen J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London SAGE Publications 01.03.2004; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Agglomeration; Conglomerates; Cultural studies; Culture; Decentralization; Economic geography; Economics; Economies of scale; Entertainment industries; Entertainment Industry; Geographic aspects; Geography; Hollywood; Los Angeles, California; Media studies; Organizational factors; Production; Programming (Broadcast); Supply; Television; Television programmes; USA; economic geography; media conglomerates; transactional relations; agglomeration; cultural economy; industrial districts
• ISSN: 0163-4437; 1460-3675
• DOI: 10.1177/0163443704039498

The article opens with a brief statement on the historical relations between feature-film and television-program production in Hollywood. The basic corporate context within which television-program production and distribution are accomplished is described in detail. Special attention is paid here to issues of vertical integration and disintegration across the entire chain of activities in the television industry. The geography of television-program production in the United States is analyzed and the pre-eminence of Hollywood in this regard is underlined. The dynamics of locational agglomeration in Hollywood are scrutinized. A case study of a primetime television show is presented in which it is demonstrated how production of the show depends upon an extraordinarily detailed system of procurements from suppliers in and around Hollywood. The accelerating process of decentralization of certain kinds of television production activities from Hollywood is then subject to analysis. The article concludes on a speculative note in which it is predicted that in the future, and especially in the television-program producing segment of the entertainment industry, Hollywood is likely to face intensifying competition in global markets.