Sony’s Funimation group has completed its $1.175bn acquisition of AT&T’s global anime streaming service Crunchyroll, bringing the two competing services under the same roof. The agreement was first announced in December 2020 and had been awaiting regulatory approval. The deal includes streaming rights to more than 1,000 anime titles and while the two companies will […]
Disney has struck a vast multi-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) that will see the Mouse House gaining US streaming and linear rights to movie franchises such as Spider-Man. Theatrical releases from 2022-26 are all covered by the arrangement, with Disney gaining access to IP once it has had an exclusive run on streaming rival […]
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has appointed former Disney Television president Ravi Ahuja as chairman of its global TV studios. Ahuja will take up the remit previously held by Mike Hopkins, who joined Amazon Studios last year, with oversight of Sony Pictures Television (SPT)’s domestic and international productions. He will also look after SPT’s gameshow franchises […]
Former Gaumont distribution chief Vanessa Shapiro has launched her own production and distribution company, Nicely Entertainment. Shapiro will serve as CEO at LA-based Nicely, which was formed in January and aims to bring “quality series and movies” to global audiences and markets around the world. She was appointed as Gaumont’s president of worldwide TV distribution […]
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is moving into kids TV production for the first time after striking a $195m deal to buy Octonauts and Peter Rabbit prodco Silvergate Media. SPT is buying the UK and New York-based company from its management team and Shamrock Capital, an LA-based investment firm that took a 51% star in the […]
Sony Corp has reported a 30% rise in profits at its Sony Pictures Entertainment division to $489m for its 2018 financial year. The rise in profits came despite a fall in revenue at SPE, which dropped slightly from $9.13bn in the previous financial year, to $8.87bn in the year to March 2019. The company said […]
Apple has appointed Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Tamara Hunter to head up casting for its growing entertainment business. Hunter, who spent two years at Sony, will oversee film and TV projects for Apple. She will report to Sony Pictures Television alum Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht. The casting chief has worked on major Hollywood hits […]
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 […]
Comcast will not pursue an acquisition of a suite of entertainment assets from 21st Century Fox, leaving The Walt Disney Company in the clear to complete a deal. NBCUniversal owner Comcast was one of a few companies with the scale to buy the available Fox assets, but has confirmed it is not moving forwards with […]
Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution (TCFTVD) has hired Sony exec Yan-Jong Wong as sales director of Asia. Her primary responsibilities will be to license TCFTVD content across pay, SVOD, AVOD, basic and free TV, as well as scripted format sales throughout the region’s markets including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Wong […]
