Strategies in Screen Industries

The course investigates screen industries and their evolution in the last few decades. In particular, it focuses on:

a) the strategies adopted by public and private media companies;

b) the policies introduced by supra-national institutions and organizations (European Union, WTO, etc.), as well as by national governments and local/regional public administrations;

c) screen industries’ market performances.

The course is focused on the screen industries, mainly on their strategies (integration, internationalization, diversification, etc.) and the business models in the main European countries and in Switzerland. New forms of digital television (as Over the Top Television), videogames and books evolution (as e-books) are analyzed. Furthermore, the course investigates the film industry and the traditional as well as emerging models of film financing, production, distribution, and consumption.

Particular attention will be paid to media policy and public financing that regulate and support TV and film business in Europe and Switzerland. 

During the course guest speakers will talk about their experience in the media industry or their research on the media industry. 

At the end of the course the students will have:

• an in-depth knowledge about the economic principles that govern screen industries, the strategies adopted by media companies and the main market trends;
• the ability to identify the political and socio-cultural factors that influence screen industries’ business in different geographic areas.

In presence

The course will be structured in lectures and the sessions will be accompanied with power point presentations and video clips.

Students’ class attendance is strongly encouraged and the participation will be evaluated. 

The instructor will not provide alternative teaching materials for non-attending students.

The final grade will be composed of the results achieved by students in: 
•    presentation of a case study analysis (40% of the final evaluation)
•    written exam (60% on the final evaluation)

Required Material

During the course the instructor will provide one or two readings that will be uploaded on the iCorsi platform.

Students are also expected to study their personal notes, the slides and teaching materials discussed during the lectures.