Top 10 Global Media Owners, 2012 [CHART]

ZenithOptimedia has released a list of the largest media companies around the world, ranked by media revenue, which it describes as “all revenues deriving from businesses that support advertising, not just the advertising revenue itself.” While only 4 online media owners made the top 30 list, it’s important to note – as the researchers do – that the figures pertain to the 2011 financial year, the most recent one that could be used for consistency’s sake. Since then, online advertising has been growing by leaps and bounds. And yet, even in 2011, one digital company ruled them all: Google.

Google stands alone at the top of the list, with an estimated $37.9 billion in revenues, more than $10 billion ahead of its nearest competitor, The DirectTV Group. Google’s commanding position within the online advertising market (of which search is the primary revenue driver) give it its edge over the traditional media and entertainment companies on the list. The other online advertising companies to make the list are Yahoo! (#15), Microsoft (#26), and Facebook (#27). Read the rest at MarketingCharts.