Megamedia Shakeout: The Inside Story of the Leaders and Losers in the Exploding Communications Industry

A tale of big ideas . . . big egos . . . and the billions to be won or lost in the exploding communications industry

"An exciting, well-written, fast paced book on a fascinating topic. It is down to earth, realistic, and important. Kevin Maney artfully demystifies the explosion of new technologies and businesses that are radically changing the way we live, work, and play."—James C. Collins coauthor of Built to Last

"Mandatory reading for all who wish to know the key media players and their future playthings. His personality portraits add the intriguing 'spice' that keeps the pages turning. This is an exceptional examination of who is likely to succeed or fail in the future media landscape."— John S. Hendricks Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The Discovery Channel

"Megamedia Shakeout by Kevin Maney is a comprehensive overview on the emerging 'new media'. Some of his conclusions are controversial, but this trenchant analysis from a veteran observer provides a paradigm for both insiders and neophytes. Whether you are in the industry as I am or a technology investor interested in unearthing these new opportunities, this book is a thought-provoking, up-to-the-minute analysis of all the players, large and small, poised to dominate the next media revolution."—Mike Bloomberg President, Bloomberg LP

"Kevin is one of the nation's most astute commentators on the mergers and alliances which will shape media in the twenty-first century. 'Megamedia' is exactly the right term to describe the multifaceted behemoths now converging, and Kevin has done a fine job of chronicling that convergence."—Ted Leonsis President, America Online Services Company

"From behind the scenes, Kevin Maney provides us with an insightful, entertaining ride on the multimedia roller coaster. Kevin's style provides us with provocative insights of the mega personalities which dominate and formulate the megamedia future. This constitutes a 'must read' for anyone who needs a map to the information highway."—Lucie J. Fjeldstad President, Fjeldstad International Former Vice President, IBM

The biggest thing to hit the business world since Henry Ford introduced assembly-line production is the concept of megamedia—the merging of the computer, telephone, software, entertainment, and cable TV industries. The technological convergence of companies from all corners of business has sparked the most sensational corporate shakeouts in history.

Now in an engrossing tale of big ideas, big egos, and the billions to be won or lost in the exploding communications industry, USA Today reporter Kevin Maney answers these questions and more. This insightful account includes:

  • Predictions of the five biggest winners and the five biggest losers in megamedia in the next few years
  • Vivid personality portraits of media moguls at the top of this new industry including Ray Smith (Bell Atlantic), Robert Allen (AT&T), Frank Biondi (Viacom), John Malone (TCI), Bill Gates and Nathan Myhrvold (Microsoft), Lew Platt (Hewlett-Packard), Barry Diller, Ted Turner, and more
  • Profiles exploring the current and future direction of many of the world's leading companies including Time Warner, Microsoft, Disney, Intel, and IBM

Writing in a taut, hard-driving journalistic style, Maney takes us behind the scenes at leading companies for the first inside look at the shakeout in the communications industry. Megamedia Shakeout cuts through the hype to bring us a bold vision of the future and a clear-sighted, practical assessment of the exciting business and investment opportunities being opened up by the communications revolution.

Kevin Maney has been chronicling the communications revolution for several years now, and he has interviewed all the key players involved. In this book, he pieces together a coherent picture of where the industry is headed, explains the technologies and technological wonders involved, and offers a highly plausible vision of what the future will look like.

"Megamedia is the information superhighway, 500-channel cable systems and interactive TV all rolled into one. It is telephone companies, cable companies, entertainment companies and computer companies. All are part of the same converging industry. All will go through astounding change over the next decade as we witness the dawn of the Communications Age."—Kevin Maney

"An exciting, well-written, fast paced book on a fascinating topic. It is down-to-earth, realistic, and important. Kevin Maney artfully demystifies the explosion of new technologies and businesses that are radically changing the way we live, work, and play."—James C. Collins coauthor of Built to Last

"Mandatory reading for all who wish to know the key media players and their future playthings. His personality portraits add the intriguing 'spice' that keeps the pages turning. This is an exceptional examination of who is likely to succeed or fail in the future media landscape"—John S. Hendricks Chairman and Chief Executive Office Discovery Communications

"Maney's working journalist's access to the key players and facts combined with his writing style provides an excellent perspective on today's newest industry the merger of computers, telecommunications, video and entertainment what he dubs Megamedia."—Alan C. Stanford Computer Consultant, Ernst & Young

"Megamedia Shakeout by Kevin Maney is a comprehensive overview on the emerging 'new media'. Some of his conclusions are controversial, but this trenchant analysis from a veteran observer provides a paradigm for both insiders and neophytes. Whether you are in the industry as I amor a technology investor interested in unearthing these new opportunities, this book is a thought-provoking, up-to-the-minute analysis of all the players, large and small, poised to dominate the next media revolution."—Mike Bloomberg President, Bloomberg LP

"Kevin is one of the nation's most astute commentators on the mergers and alliances which will shape media in the twenty-first century. 'Megamedia' is exactly the right term to describe the multifaceted behemoths now converging, and Kevin has done a fine job of chronicling that convergence"—Ted Leonsis President, America Online Services Company

"From behind the scenes, Kevin Maney provides us with an insightful, entertaining ride on the multimedia roller coaster. . .climbing upward as the fevered pitch of mega-mergers grabbed the daily headlines and accelerating down again as many self-destructed and back around again as new players vied for control. Kevin's style provides us with provocative insights of the mega personalities which dominate and formulate the megamedia future. This constitutes a 'must read' for anyone who needs a map to the information highway"—Lucie J. Fjeldstad President, Fjeldstad International Formerly Vice President, IBM

Biography

Kevin Maney is a reporter for the "Money" section of USA Today. His business column regularly appears in USA Today and, via the Gannett News Service, 25 other newspapers, including the Seattle Times and the Detroit News. Over the past few years, Mr. Maney has produced more than 30 cover stories on the subject of technological convergence for USA Today.

Table of Contents

Companies Gone Mad.

The Mythical Compuphonavision Set.

Bell-Heads No More: The Telephone Industry.

How Many Channels Did You Say?

The Cable-TV Industry.

Making it Sing and Dance: The Media and Entertainment Industries.

The Most Valuable Asset on Earth: The Long-Distance Communications Industry.

Making it Work: The Software Industry.

Gotta See Past the Keyboard: The Computer Industry.

Cutting the Cord: The Wireless Industry.

The Grab Bag.

Out on a Limb.

Index.

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