The business cycle of the media makes a lot more sense when you realize that you're not the consumer of magazines, tv shows, etc... You are the product, being delivered on a plate to the consumers, the advertisers. Same thing with snazzy web pages with banner ads. Ever wonder why there's more form than content? Its cause you aren't the consumer and the web page isn't the product. The companies in the banners are the consumers, and the product is you.