This impressive new book uniquely focuses on the phenomenon of media clusters and is designed to inform policy makers, scholars, and media practitioners about the underlying challenges of media firm agglomerations, their potential, and their effects.

Contents: Preface PART I: CLUSTERS AND AGGLOMERATION 1. Media Clusters: What Makes them Unique? Charlie Karlsson and Robert G. Picard 2. Promotion of Company and Local Economic Growth through Clusters Sören Eriksson 3. Media Clusters: Development Paths and Core Issues Leona Achtenhagen and Robert G. Picard 4. Media Industry Clusters and Public Policy Charles H. Davis PART II: MEDIA CLUSTER STUDIES Section A. Clusters Maintaining or Reinvigorating Media Leadership 5. Back to Hilversum: Consolidation of the Dutch Broadcast Cluster Erik Hitters 6. Microclustering of the Media Industries in London Andy C. Pratt 7. Munich’s Media Cluster at the Crossroads Harold Bathelt Section B: Clusters Expanding or Improving their Position 8. The Transformation of Broadcasting and Film in Manchester and Liverpool Gary Cook and Jennifer Johns 9. Sydney’s Media Cluster: Continuity and Change in Film and Television Tom O’Regan, Ben Goldsmith and Susan Ward 10. The Toronto Media Cluster: Between Culture and Commerce Charles H. Davis 11. Vancouver as Media Cluster: The Cases of Video Games and Film/TV Trevor Barnes and Neil M. Coe Section C: Start-up Clusters 12. Dubai Media City: Creating Benefits from Foreign Media Developments Robert G. Picard and Leon Barkho 13. Media Industry Clustering in South Africa: Prospects for Economic Development and Spatial Reconfiguration Harry Dugmore and Johanna Mavhungu 14. Can Singapore Develop into a Global Media City? Sören Eriksson 15. Creating a Film Production Cluster in Sweden’s West: The Cast of ‘Trollywood’ Leona Achtenhagen PART III: CONCLUSION 16. The Challenges of Media Clusters Charlie Karlsson and Robert G. Picard Index

‘Charlie Karlsson and Robert G. Picard have edited an impressive volume that addresses the efficacy and impact of media clusters on economic and regional development and on creativity and output of media products. Its focus on media clusters not only advances our understanding of the specific spatial and organizational dynamics of the media as compared to other industries, but also our understanding of the wide variety of media clusters characteristics, policies, and histories. . . All contributions are well written, and each makes a unique contribution to the overall theme of the book. They can be separate, stand-alone pieces, however they also build on each other, creating a captivating flow of information and analysis that makes the whole book a pleasure to read. . . This edited volume makes very important contributions to the academic literature of regional economic development and media clusters in particular. The book is relevant to scholars, students, media professionals, and policymakers. And while it is especially geared towards people interested in media clusters, it also offers interesting questions and information for anyone researching and learning about regional clusters in general and cultural industries clusters in particular.’