Kazuo Hirai


Kaplan exits Sony as Le Goy expands role

Andy Kaplan is one of three president-level executives leaving Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), with worldwide distribution chief Keith Le Goy rising in the reshuffle. Kaplan (pictured) has been with Sony or its affiliates for nearly 30 years, and has greatly expanded the US studio’s channels operations in his most recent role. However, he will leave […]

Sony lowers forecasts but keeps studio

Sony has lowered full-year forecasts for its entertainment business after reporting a double-digit decline in revenue at the division, which includes the feature film, TV and channels operations. The Japanese company recorded a massive write down at its Sony Pictures division earlier this year, but said yesterday the division can return to growth by producing […]

Sony takes $977m charge on Pictures unit

Japan’s Sony Corp. has recorded a ¥112.1 billion (US$977.4 million) goodwill impairment charge due to the performance of its Sony Pictures Entertainment arm. The non-cash impairment will be written off as an operating loss, and will impact Sony’s third quarter financial results for the three months ending December 31, 2016 when they are revealed on […]

PlayStation VR to support 360° YouTube videos

PlayStation VR users can now experience immersive 360-degree YouTube videos using their PS VR headsets. Since the launch of PS VR in October, users have been able to watch streaming and catch-up services on a virtual “big-screen” using the headset. Now users can also watch 360-degree YouTube content that responds to users’ head movements with […]

MIPCOM: Sony talks up virtual reality TV

Sony has committed to making a variety of content “beyond gaming” following the global launch last week of its PlayStation VR headset. Speaking at MIPCOM this morning, the president and CEO of Sony Corporation, Kazuo Hirai, said that Sony is well positioned to set trends in virtual reality – both by providing an “entirely new […]

Sony boss heading to MIPCOM

Sony Corporation CEO Kazuo Hirai will give a keynote address at MIPCOM in October. Hirai runs the entire Sony business, encompassing its TV and film divisions, as well as the Playstation and wider consumer electronics units. He will deliver the opening keynote of the market in the Grand Auditorium on Monday, October 17. His appearance […]

Sony targets $11bn sales by 2018

Sony Corp. plans to use its growing television business to spearhead a revival in its entertainment business and push revenues for the division to US$11 billion. Revealing financial targets to investors in Japan, the electronics and content giant said it wanted Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring in between US$10 billion and US$11 billion by March […]

Sony reaffirms plans to keep entertainment

Sony has reiterated its previously stated plans to keep its entertainment business as part of the wider corporation. Investors, notably the Third Point hedge fund boss Daniel Loeb, have put pressure on Sony to separate its consumer electronics and entertainment business, which includes Sony Pictures Television division. Company CEO Kazuo Hirai told investors at a […]

Sony goes on the offensive, shifts focus to TV

Sony reacted to calls to split its technology and entertainment operations yesterday with the company’s top executives emphatic that TV and movies are a core part of the business and critical to its wider success. Within the entertainment segment, the studio’s TV and movie bosses were clear that the emphasis will shift from features to […]