(The Economic Collapse Blog)—We live in a society that is literally addicted to consuming media content. Unfortunately, control of that content is dominated by just a handful of ultra-powerful corporations. Back in 1983, the media industry was controlled by a group of about 50 large companies. Today, the media industry is controlled by just 6 gigantic corporations. They own television networks, streaming services, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels and even many of our favorite websites.
Sadly, most of us don’t ever stop to think about who is feeding us the endless hours of news, sports and entertainment that we constantly ingest. But we should. The truth is that each of us is tremendously influenced by the messages that are constantly being poured into our heads. We are addicted to the “programming”, and we just keep coming back for more. Most of us spend multiple hours each day consuming media content, and many of us actually begin to feel physically uncomfortable if we go too long without watching or listening to something.
The six corporations that collectively control the media industry are Disney, Time Warner, National Amusements, News Corporation, Comcast and Sony. Collectively, the “big six” absolutely dominate news and entertainment in the United States. If the “big six” were a country, they would have the 26th largest GDP in the world. But even those areas of the media that the “big six” do not completely control are becoming increasingly concentrated. For example, iHeartMedia now owns over 1,200 radio stations in the United States, and companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook are increasingly dominating the Internet.
When you control what Americans watch, hear and read, you acquire a great deal of influence over what they think.
The content that they produce for us is called “programming” for a reason.
The power to shape our culture is the power to alter the future of our society. We have witnessed seismic cultural shifts in recent decades, and the media industry has been the driving force behind many of those shifts.
These gigantic media conglomerates are much larger than most people realize. Below, I have listed just a sampling of some of the media properties that are owned and controlled by the “big six”…
Disney
- ABC Television Network
- Disney+
- Pixar
- Disney Publishing Worldwide
- ESPN
- A&E
- Lifetime
- The History Channel
- Marvel
- Lucasfilm
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- Buena Vista Records
- Buena Vista Games
- Disney Records
- Hollywood Records
- Miramax Films
- Touchstone Pictures
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Vice
Time Warner
- CNN
- HBO
- Time Inc.
- Time Warner Cable
- Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
- Castle Rock Entertainment
- CW Network (partial ownership)
- TMZ
- New Line Cinema
- Time Warner Cable
- Cinemax
- Cartoon Network
- DC Entertainment
- TBS
- TNT
- America Online
- Sports Illustrated
- Fortune
- Marie Claire
- People Magazine
National Amusements
- CBS Television Network
- Paramount+
- Paramount Pictures
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- Showtime
- Black Entertainment Television (BET)
- CBS Films
- CBS Games
- Comedy Central
- Country Music Television (CMT)
- Gamespot
- Logo
- MTV
- Nickelodeon
- Nick at Nite
- Nick Jr.
- Spike TV
- The Movie Channel
- TV Land
- VH1
- The Smithsonian Channel
- Pocket Books
- Simon & Schuster
News Corporation
- Fox Television Network
- Fox News
- Fox Sports
- Fox Business
- Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
- The New York Post
- Barron’s
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- Beliefnet
- FX
- The Speed Channel
- Times of London
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
- 20th Century Fox International
- 20th Century Fox Studios
- 20th Century Fox Television
- The Wall Street Journal
- Fox Broadcasting Company
- Fox Interactive Media
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Harlequin
- The National Geographic Channel
- Tubi
- Zondervan
Comcast
- NBC Television Network
- Peacock
- MSNBC
- CNBC
- NBC News
- Bravo
- NBC Sports
- Comcast Sportsnet
- The Golf Channel
- Fandango
- FanDuel
- Oxygen
- Syfy
- Telemundo
- USA Network
- The Weather Channel
- Focus Features
- NBC Universal Television Distribution
- NBC Universal Television Studio
- Universal Parks & Resorts
- Universal Pictures
Sony
- Sony Pictures
- Sony Pictures Animation
- Sony Entertainment Televsion
- Sony Music
- Sony Interactive Entertainment (Playstation)
- TriStar
- Triumph Films
- Affirm Films
- Animax
- Crackle
- CSC Media Group
- Columbia Pictures
- Destination Films
Big tech companies such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix have started to produce their own content in recent years, but their content is nearly indistinguishable from that produced by the “big six”.
The primary goal of these behemoths is to make money.
So they aren’t going to do anything that will threaten their relationships with their biggest advertisers. This is one of the reasons why large pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars on advertising. They realize that executives at these companies will be desperate to keep the gravy train rolling, and so negative coverage of pharmaceutical companies will be almost non-existent.
Fortunately, an increasing number of people are starting to wake up and are realizing that the media industry should not be trusted.
In fact, a Gallup survey that was conducted in October 2024 found that only 31 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of confidence in the mainstream media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly”.
The good news is that as the mainstream media loses credibility, the alternative media is growing.
Americans are starting to look elsewhere for the truth, and that has allowed independent journalists such as myself to flourish.
Of course the establishment has responded by aggressively censoring the alternative media, but now that we have a new administration in Washington that is anti-censorship, hopefully we will see some significant changes.
Every day, we are in a battle for hearts and minds. Most of the population is still plugged into “the matrix” and still consumes endless hours of “programming” that is produced by the “big six”. Meanwhile, those of us in the alternative media are desperately trying to get people to wake up and think for themselves.
Sadly, even most people that think that they are “awake” are still being very heavily influenced by movies, television shows and news programs.
The “programming” that they are constantly offering to us is so seductive, and very few are able to break the addiction entirely.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.