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Tag: PS3

  • FY-16: Games, Music dampen Mobile’s drop in Sony revenue; reports profit

    FY-16: Games, Music dampen Mobile’s drop in Sony revenue; reports profit

    BENGALURU:  Sony Corporation (Sony) reported 1.3 percent drop in sales for the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY-16, current year). Sony’s revenue for the current year was ¥8,105.7 billion, for the previous year it was ¥8,215.9 billion. Sony attributes the decrease to a decline of 20 percent in sales of its Mobile Communications (MC) segment which was offset by a 11.8 percent increase in sales of its Games and Network Services (G&NS) segment, and a 10.4 percent in sales from its Music segment. The increase in sales from Sony’s G&NS segment reflects an increase in sales of its PlayStation 4 (PS4).

    Sony’s reported net income attributable to stockholders at ¥147.8 billion for the current year as compared to a loss of ¥126 billion yen in the previous year.

    Of special significance from the India perspective was the increase in Media Networks sales which was primarily due to higher advertising revenues in India and the United Kingdom. The Media Networks is a category in Sony’s Pictures segment.

    Mobile Communications

    MC segment reported 20 percent drop in sales in FY-16 to ¥1,127.5 billion from ¥1,410.2 billion in the previous year. The segment reported a lower operating loss of ¥61.4 billion as compared to an operating loss ¥217.6 billion in the previous year. The company says that this was because of a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability.

    Game & Network Services

    G&NS segment reported an increase of 11.8 percent in sales to ¥1,551.9 billion in the current year as compared to ¥1,388 billion in the previous year. The above mentioned gains from PS4 were offset by a decline in PS3 hardware and software sales. Operating income in FY-16 increased 84.4 percent in the current year to ¥88.7 billion from ¥48.1 billion in the previous year. Sony attributes the increase to increase in PS4 software sales and PS4 hardware cost reductions as well as the absence of write down of ¥11.2 billion in the current year of PS Vita and PS TV components that was recorded in FY-15.

    Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

    IP&S segment reported a 1.7 percent decline in sales in FY-16 to ¥712.2 billion as compared to ¥723.9 billion in the previous year. Sony says that sales of video cameras and digital cameras were lower due to the contraction of the market. This segment reported a 72.1 increase in operating profit in FY-16 at ¥72.1 billion from ¥41.8 billion in the previous year. The increase was due to improvement in product mix of digital cameras and price reductions.

    Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)

    HE&S segment reported a 6.4 percent decline in sales in FY-16 to ¥1,159 billion from ¥1,238.1 billion in FY-15. Sony says that this was due to a decline in unit sales of LCD televisions and a decline in home audio and video unit sales, reflecting a contraction of the market. Television sales declined 4.5 percent in FY-16 to ¥797.8 billion as compared to last year.

    The segment’s operating income increased to ¥50.6 billion in the current year from ¥24.1 in FY-15, primarily due to cost reductions and increase in product mix.

    Devices

    Devices segment revenue in FY-16 was flat (increased by 0.9 percent) to ¥735.8 billion from ¥927.1 billion in FY-15. The segment reported an operating loss of ¥28.6 billion in the current year as compared to an operating profit of ¥89 billon in FY-15.

    Pictures

    Pictures segment sales increased 6.8 percent to ¥938.1 billion in FY-16 from ¥878.7 billion in the previous year. Sony’s Pictures segment is primarily comprises of Motion Pictures, Televisions Productions and Media Networks categories. The impact of forex rates and lower sales in Motion Pictures was offset by higher sales in Televisions Productions and Media Networks. The increase in Media Networks was primarily due to higher advertising revenues in India and the United Kingdom. The increase in Television Productions sales was primarily due to higher subscription video-on-demand (VOD) revenues from Breaking Bad, The Blacklist and Better call Saul.

    Operating income for the segment declined 51.9 percent in the current year to ¥38.5 billion from ¥58.5 billion in FY-15.

    Music

    Sony’s Music segment comprises of Recorded Music, Music Publishing and Visual Media and Platform categories. The segment reported a 10.4 percent increase in sales to ¥617.6 billion in FY-16 from ¥559.2 billion in FY-15. Sony says that the increase was primarily due to the depreciation of the yen versus the US dollar. There was a significant increase in Visual Media and Platform sales reflecting the continued strong performance of a game application for mobile devices. In Recorded Music digital streaming revenues significantly increased, partially offset by a worldwide decline in physical and digital download sales. The current year includes the record breaking sales of Adele’s new album 25. Other best-selling titles include One Direction’s Made in the A.M., David Bowie’s Black Star and Meghan Trainor’s Title.

    The segment’s operating income increased 44.1 percent in FY-16 to ¥87.3 billion from ¥60.6 billion in the previous year.

    Besides the above, Sony has two other segments – Financial Services and All Other services. Numbers of these segments have not been mentioned in this report.

  • FY-16: Games, Music dampen Mobile’s drop in Sony revenue; reports profit

    FY-16: Games, Music dampen Mobile’s drop in Sony revenue; reports profit

    BENGALURU:  Sony Corporation (Sony) reported 1.3 percent drop in sales for the year ended 31 March 2016 (FY-16, current year). Sony’s revenue for the current year was ¥8,105.7 billion, for the previous year it was ¥8,215.9 billion. Sony attributes the decrease to a decline of 20 percent in sales of its Mobile Communications (MC) segment which was offset by a 11.8 percent increase in sales of its Games and Network Services (G&NS) segment, and a 10.4 percent in sales from its Music segment. The increase in sales from Sony’s G&NS segment reflects an increase in sales of its PlayStation 4 (PS4).

    Sony’s reported net income attributable to stockholders at ¥147.8 billion for the current year as compared to a loss of ¥126 billion yen in the previous year.

    Of special significance from the India perspective was the increase in Media Networks sales which was primarily due to higher advertising revenues in India and the United Kingdom. The Media Networks is a category in Sony’s Pictures segment.

    Mobile Communications

    MC segment reported 20 percent drop in sales in FY-16 to ¥1,127.5 billion from ¥1,410.2 billion in the previous year. The segment reported a lower operating loss of ¥61.4 billion as compared to an operating loss ¥217.6 billion in the previous year. The company says that this was because of a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability.

    Game & Network Services

    G&NS segment reported an increase of 11.8 percent in sales to ¥1,551.9 billion in the current year as compared to ¥1,388 billion in the previous year. The above mentioned gains from PS4 were offset by a decline in PS3 hardware and software sales. Operating income in FY-16 increased 84.4 percent in the current year to ¥88.7 billion from ¥48.1 billion in the previous year. Sony attributes the increase to increase in PS4 software sales and PS4 hardware cost reductions as well as the absence of write down of ¥11.2 billion in the current year of PS Vita and PS TV components that was recorded in FY-15.

    Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

    IP&S segment reported a 1.7 percent decline in sales in FY-16 to ¥712.2 billion as compared to ¥723.9 billion in the previous year. Sony says that sales of video cameras and digital cameras were lower due to the contraction of the market. This segment reported a 72.1 increase in operating profit in FY-16 at ¥72.1 billion from ¥41.8 billion in the previous year. The increase was due to improvement in product mix of digital cameras and price reductions.

    Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)

    HE&S segment reported a 6.4 percent decline in sales in FY-16 to ¥1,159 billion from ¥1,238.1 billion in FY-15. Sony says that this was due to a decline in unit sales of LCD televisions and a decline in home audio and video unit sales, reflecting a contraction of the market. Television sales declined 4.5 percent in FY-16 to ¥797.8 billion as compared to last year.

    The segment’s operating income increased to ¥50.6 billion in the current year from ¥24.1 in FY-15, primarily due to cost reductions and increase in product mix.

    Devices

    Devices segment revenue in FY-16 was flat (increased by 0.9 percent) to ¥735.8 billion from ¥927.1 billion in FY-15. The segment reported an operating loss of ¥28.6 billion in the current year as compared to an operating profit of ¥89 billon in FY-15.

    Pictures

    Pictures segment sales increased 6.8 percent to ¥938.1 billion in FY-16 from ¥878.7 billion in the previous year. Sony’s Pictures segment is primarily comprises of Motion Pictures, Televisions Productions and Media Networks categories. The impact of forex rates and lower sales in Motion Pictures was offset by higher sales in Televisions Productions and Media Networks. The increase in Media Networks was primarily due to higher advertising revenues in India and the United Kingdom. The increase in Television Productions sales was primarily due to higher subscription video-on-demand (VOD) revenues from Breaking Bad, The Blacklist and Better call Saul.

    Operating income for the segment declined 51.9 percent in the current year to ¥38.5 billion from ¥58.5 billion in FY-15.

    Music

    Sony’s Music segment comprises of Recorded Music, Music Publishing and Visual Media and Platform categories. The segment reported a 10.4 percent increase in sales to ¥617.6 billion in FY-16 from ¥559.2 billion in FY-15. Sony says that the increase was primarily due to the depreciation of the yen versus the US dollar. There was a significant increase in Visual Media and Platform sales reflecting the continued strong performance of a game application for mobile devices. In Recorded Music digital streaming revenues significantly increased, partially offset by a worldwide decline in physical and digital download sales. The current year includes the record breaking sales of Adele’s new album 25. Other best-selling titles include One Direction’s Made in the A.M., David Bowie’s Black Star and Meghan Trainor’s Title.

    The segment’s operating income increased 44.1 percent in FY-16 to ¥87.3 billion from ¥60.6 billion in the previous year.

    Besides the above, Sony has two other segments – Financial Services and All Other services. Numbers of these segments have not been mentioned in this report.

  • Q1-2016: Sony income triples despite poor performance of mobile & movies

    Q1-2016: Sony income triples despite poor performance of mobile & movies

    BENGALURU: Despite operating losses reported by Sony Corporation’s (Sony) mobile communications, pictures and all other segments, the company’s net attributable to its shareholders more than tripled (up 3.07 times) to ?82.4 billion in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to the ?26.8 billion in Q1-2015. 

     

    Sony’s Mobile Communications (MC) segment reported a higher operating loss in the current quarter of ?22.9 billion as compared to the ?1.6 billion in the corresponding year ago quarter. Sony Pictures segment reported an operating loss in Q1-2016 of ?11.7 billion as compared to an operating profit of ?7.8 billion in Q1-2015. All others segment reported a lower operating loss in Q1-2016 of ?5 billion as compared to the ?20 billion in Q1-2015. However, Sony’s other segments- Games and Network Services (G&NS), Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S), Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S), Devices, Music, and Financial services reported growth in YoY operating income.

     

    Sony’s sales and operating revenue (Sales) decreased by 0.1 per cent in Q1-2016 to ?1808.1 billion compared to ?1,809.9 billion in the corresponding quarter of last year. Sales were essentially flat YoY mainly due to a decrease in Mobile Communications segment sales reflecting a significant decrease in smartphone unit sales and a decrease in Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S) segment sales reflecting a decrease in unit sales of mid-range LCD televisions, substantially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and a significant increase in Devices segment sales reflecting the strong performance of image sensors. On a constant currency basis, sales decreased seven per cent YoY.

     

    Operating income increased ?27.1 billion YoY to ?96.9 billion). This increase was primarily due to an increase in operating income in the Music segment, reflecting the recording of a re-measurement gain, described below, and the impact of the increase in sales in the Devices segment. This increase was partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates in the MC segment and lower sales in the Pictures segment due to a decrease in theatrical and television licensing revenues for Motion Pictures.

     

    Segment performance

     

    Mobile Communications

     

    Sony’s MC segment sales decreased 16.3 per cent YoY (an 18 per cent decrease on a constant currency basis) to ?280.5 billion in the current quarter as compared to the ?335 billion in Q1-2015. This decrease was due to a significant decrease in smartphone unit sales resulting from a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability.

     

    The above mentioned operating loss increased because of the decrease in smartphone unit sales and an increase in restructuring charges were offset primarily by reductions in marketing and other expenses as well as an improvement in product mix. However, operating loss increased mainly due to the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs. During the current quarter there was a ?25.4 billion negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Game & Network Services (G&NS)

     

    G&NS sales increased 12.1 per cent YoY (a seven per cent increase on a constant currency basis) to ?288.6 billion. This significant increase was primarily due to increases in PlayStation4 (PS4) software sales and PS4 peripheral device unit sales as well as the impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by a decrease in PlayStation3 (PS3) hardware and software devices.

     

    Operating income increased ?15.1 billion YoY to ?19.5 billion in Q1-2016 as compared to the ?4.1 billion in Q1-2015. This increase was primarily due to PS4 hardware cost reductions, the above-mentioned increases in PS4 software sales and PS4 peripheral device unit sales, partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs and the decrease in PS3 software sales.

     

    Sony says that operating income in the current quarter also includes ?4.7 billion of insurance recoveries related to losses incurred from the cyberattack on Sony’s network services including the PlayStation Network in the fiscal year ended 31 March, 2012. During the current quarter there was a ?15.6 billion negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

     

    IP&S sales increased 3.5 per cent YoY (a five per cent decrease on a constant currency basis) to ?170.4 billion in Q1-2016 as compared to the ?164.6 billion in Q1-2015, primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and an improvement in the product mix of digital cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by a decrease in unit sales of digital cameras reflecting a contraction of the market.

     

    Operating income increased ?3.9 billion YoY to ?21.3 billion. This increase was mainly due to the improvement in digital camera product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, a YoY increase in insurance recoveries related to damages and losses incurred from the floods in Thailand in the fiscal year ended 31 March, 2012, and the positive impact of foreign exchange rates, partially by the impact of the decrease in unit sales of digital cameras. During the current quarter there was a ?2 billion positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)

     

    Sony’s HE&S sales decreased 13.8 per cent YoY (a 21 per cent decrease on a constant currency basis) to ?253.1 billion yen ($2,075 million). This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in unit sales of LCD televisions, mainly in the mid-range, as well as a decrease in home audio and video unit sales reflecting a contraction of the market.

     

    Operating income increased ?2.1 billion YoY to ?10.9 billion. This increase was primarily due to cost reductions and an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the above-mentioned decrease in LCD televisions and home audio and video unit sales, as well as the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs. During the current quarter there was a ?7.7 billion negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    In Televisions, sales decreased 17.6 percent YoY to ?168.9 billion. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in unit sales. LCD television unit sales decreased YoY in all areas other than North America mainly due to a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability. Operating income decreased ?0.9 billion YoY to ?7 billion. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of the decrease in unit sales and the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs, partially offset by an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models and cost reductions.

     

    Devices

     

    Sony’s Devices segment sales increased 35.1 per cent YoY (an 18 per cent increase on a constant currency basis) to ?237.9 billion. This increase was primarily due to a significant increase in sales of image sensors reflecting higher demand for image sensors for mobile products, the impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as a significant increase in sales of camera modules. Sales to external customers increased 41.2 per cent YoY.

     

    Operating income increased ?18.8 billion YoY to ?30.3 billion. This significant increase was primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales of image sensors and the positive impact of foreign exchange rates. During the current quarter there was an ?11 billion positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Pictures

     

    Sales decreased 11.9 per cent YoY (a 26 per cent decrease on a US dollar basis) to ?171.5 billion. The decrease in sales on a US dollar basis was primarily due to significantly lower sales for Motion Pictures reflecting a decrease in theatrical and television licensing revenues. Theatrical revenues decreased due to the stronger worldwide theatrical performance of films released in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year which benefitted from the performances of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and 22 Jump Street. Television licensing revenues were lower in the current quarter as the same quarter of the previous fiscal year benefitted from sales ofCloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 and Captain Phillips.

     

    Sony’s deterioration in operating results was primarily due to the impact of the decrease in theatrical and television licensing revenues noted above.

     

    Music 

     

    Sony’s Music segment comprised the Recorded Music, Music Publishing and Visual Media and Platform categories. Recorded Music includes the distribution of physical and digital recorded music and revenue derived from artists’ live performances; Music Publishing includes the management and licensing of the words and music of songs; Visual Media and Platform includes various service offerings for music and visual products and the production and distribution of animation titles.

     

    Sales increased 8.5 per cent YoY (a three per cent decrease on a constant currency basis) to ?130.2 billion primarily due to the impact of the depreciation of the yen against the US dollar. The decrease in sales on a constant currency basis was primarily due to lower Recorded Music sales. Recorded Music sales decreased primarily due to the continued worldwide contraction of the physical music market. Best-selling titles included Meghan Trainor’s Title, Shogo Hamada’s Journey of a Songwriter and Francis Cabrel’s In Extremis. 

     

    Operating income increased ?20.1 billion YoY to ?31.8 billion. This increase was primarily due to the $151 million (?18.1 billion) gain on the re-measurement to fair value of SME’s 51 per cent equity interest in The Orchard, which had previously been accounted for under the equity method, as a result of SME increasing its ownership interest to 100 per cent and the positive impact of foreign exchange rates.

     

    Financial Services

     

    The segment results include Sony Financial Holdings Inc. (SFH) and SFH’s consolidated subsidiaries such as Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (Sony Life), Sony Assurance Inc. and Sony Bank Inc. (Sony Bank). The results of Sony Life discussed in the Financial Services segment differ from the results that SFH and Sony Life disclose separately on a Japanese statutory basis.

     

    Financial services revenue increased 13.1 per cent YoY to ?279.4 billion primarily due to an increase in revenue at Sony Life. Revenue at Sony Life increased 15.7 per cent YoY to ?250.9 billion mainly due to an increase in insurance premium revenue reflecting an increase in policy amount in force, as well as an improvement in investment performance in the separate account resulting mainly from a larger rise in the Japanese stock market during the current quarter than in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

     

    Operating income increased ?2.2 billion yen YoY to ?46.0 billion. This increase was mainly due to an increase in operating income at Sony Life. Operating income at Sony Life increased ?3.7 billion YoY to ?40.9 billion primarily due to an improvement in investment performance in the general account.

     

    All Other

     

    All Other included the PC business in the previous fiscal year. Due to certain changes in Sony’s organizational structure, sales and operating revenue and operating loss of All Other of the comparable prior period have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

     

    Sales decreased 22.9 per cent YoY to ?79.3 billion. This significant decrease in sales was primarily due to the recording of sales in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year from the PC business which was sold in July, 2014.

     

    Operating loss decreased ?15 billion YoY to ?5 billion. This decrease was primarily due to the absence of the operating loss from the PC business in Q1-2015.

  • FY-2015: Forex, PS4, image sensors boost Sony revenue 5.8%

    FY-2015: Forex, PS4, image sensors boost Sony revenue 5.8%

    BENGALURU: Sony Corporation reported a 5.8 per cent growth in sales and operating revenue in FY-2015 (year ended 31 March, 2015, current year) at ?8215.9 billion as compared to the ?7767.5 billion in FY-2014. The company says that the increase was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates, a significant increase in Game & Network Services (G&NS) segment sales reflecting the strong performance of PlayStation 4 (PS4) and a significant increase in Devices segment sales due to the strong performance of image sensors. This increase was partially offset by a significant decrease in sales in All Other, primarily related to Sony’s exit from the PC business. On a constant currency basis, sales were essentially flat year-on-year says the company.

     

    The company’s operating income more than doubled (up 2.6 times) to ?68.5 billion in the current year from ?26.5 billion in the previous year. Sony says that the increase was primarily due to a significant improvement in the operating results of the Devices, G&NS and Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S) segments. This improvement was partially offset by a significant deterioration in operating results in the Mobile Communications (MC) segment, primarily due to a ?176.0 billion ($1,467 million) impairment of goodwill.

     

    The net loss attributable to Sony’s stockholders in the year at ?126 billion in FY-2015 was slightly lower than the loss of ?128.4 billion in FY-2014.

     

    Business Segments

     

    Mobile Communications (MC)

     

    Sony’s MC segment reported 11 per cent improvement in sales and operating revenues in FY-2015 to ?1323.3 billion as compared to the ?1191.8 billion in FY-2014. The segment reported an operating loss of ?220.4 billion in the current year as compared to an operating profit of ?12.6 billion last year. As mentioned above, the major contributor to loss was the impairment of goodwill of ?176.0 billion.

     

    Game & Network Services (G&NS)

     

    G&NS segment reported 33 per cent growth in sales and operating income to ?1388 billion in FY-2015 as compared to the ?1043.9 billion in FY-2014. Sales and operating income increase was primarily due to an increase in PS4 hardware unit sales, an increase in network services revenue, the impact of foreign exchange rates and an increase in PS4 software sales, partially offset by a decrease in PlayStation3 (PS3) hardware and PS3 software sales.

     

    The segment’s operating profit improved to ?48.1 billion in the current year as compared to a loss of ?18.8 billion in the previous year.

     

    Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

     

    IP&S reported 2.9 per cent drop in sales and operating revenue to ?720 billion in the current year from ?741.2 billion in the previous year primarily due to a significant decrease in unit sales of digital cameras and video cameras reflecting a contraction of these markets, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and an improvement in the product mix of digital cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models.

     

    Operating income more than doubled (2.08 times) in FY-2015 to ?54.7 billion as compared to the ?26.2 billion in FY-2014. This increase was mainly due to a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses, the favourable impact of foreign exchange rates and the above-mentioned improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the above-mentioned decrease in sales of digital cameras and video says Sony.

     

    Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)

     

    HE&S revenue in FY-2015 improved 3.3 per cent to ?1207.3 billion from ?1168.6 billion in the previous year due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and an increase in sales of televisions, partially offset by a decrease in audio and video sales. Unit sales of LCD televisions increased mainly due to increases in North America, Japan and Europe, partially offset by decreases in Latin America and China. In Television, sales increased 10.7 per cent year-on-year to ?835.1 billion in FY-2015.

     

    The segment reported operating profit of ?20.1 billion as compared to a loss of ?25.5 in the previous year due to cost reductions and an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, partially offset by the unfavourable impact of the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs.

     

    Devices

     

    Revenue improved 23.9 per cent in FY-2015 to ?957.8billion from ?773 billion in FY-2014 due to increase in sales of image sensors reflecting higher demand for mobile products, the impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as a significant increase in sales of camera modules. Sales to external customers increased 29.8 per cent year-on-year.

     

    The segment reported operating profit of ?93.1 billion in the current year as compared to a loss of ?12.4 billion in FY-2014 due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales of image sensors, the recording of a 32.1 billion yen impairment charge related to long-lived assets in the battery business in the previous fiscal year and the favourable impact of foreign exchange rates.

     

    Pictures

     

    Sony’s Pictures segment report 5.9 per cent rise in FY-2015 in revenue to ?878.7 billion from ?829.6 billion in FY-2014. However in dollar terms, sales from the segment reduced 4 per cent to $7322 million due to a decrease in sales for Motion Pictures and Television Productions. The decrease in Motion Pictures sales was primarily due to lower theatrical revenues reflecting fewer theatrical releases as compared to the previous fiscal year. The decrease in Television Productions sales was due to the previous fiscal year benefitting from the extension and expansion in scope of a licensing agreement for game shows produced by SPE, including Wheel of Fortune. Sales for Media Networks increased year-on-year due to higher digital game revenues and advertising revenues primarily due to acquisitions made in the previous and current fiscal year.

     

    Pictures segment operating income improved 13.4 per cent to ?58.5 billion in FY-2015 from ?51.6 billion in the previous year due to the favourable impact of the depreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar. On a US dollar basis, operating income was essentially flat year-on-year. The current fiscal year benefitted from the stronger performance of the current fiscal year’s film slate as the previous fiscal year reflected the underperformance of White House Down and After Earth. The current fiscal year also benefitted from lower restructuring charges. Partially offsetting this increase was a gain recognized on the sale of SPE’s music publishing catalogue in the previous fiscal year, the above mentioned decrease in Television Productions sales and higher programming and marketing costs for SPE’s television networks in India.

     

    Music

     

    Sony’s Music segment reported an improvement of 8.2 per cent in revenue in FY-2105 to ?544.6 billion from ?503.3 in the previous year due to depreciation of the yen against the US dollar.

     

    Operating Income in FY-2015 improved 17.4 per cent to ?59 billion form ?50.2 billion in FY-2014.

     

    Financial Services

     

    Financial Services revenue in FY-2015 increased nine per cent to ?1083.6 billion from ?993.8 billion in FY-2014. Operating income from the segment improved 13.5 per cent in the current year to ?193.3 billion from ?170.3 billion in the previous year.

     

    Cyber attack impact on Sony’s FY-2015 figures

     

    Sony’s FY-2015 numbers also included approximately $41 million (?4.9 billion) in costs primarily related to investigation and remediation expenses relating to a cyber attack on SPE’s network and IT infrastructure, which was identified in November 2014 (the cyber attack).

     

  • Sony Electronics focusses on transformation this year

    Sony Electronics focusses on transformation this year

    MUMBAI: Sony Electronics says that it is continuing its transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.

    At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas it has a 100,000 square-foot exhibit that brings together all of the company’s strengths from electronics, music and gaming to movies, television and online entertainment.

    In a press conference kicked off by Sony BMG Music Grammy award-winning musician Joshua Bell, several of the company’s US business leaders announced products and technologies related to four strategic growth areas — gaming, high definition, digital imaging and mobile products.

    Sony Electronics president and COO Stan Glasgow unveilled the company’s first Internet video system. He announced that in 2007 the majority of new Sony televisions — starting
    with several Bravia flat-panel LCD TVs this year– will accept an attachable module that can stream broadband high-definition and other Internet video content with the press of a remote control button. The module will be available this summer.

    Glasgow said, “While other companies struggle with standard definition, Sony has developed a scalable Internet HDTV solution with some notable partners providing content”. Those partners include AOL, Yahoo! and Grouper, now part of Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as Sony Pictures itself and Sony BMG.

    Sony’s Xross Media Bar (XMB), an icon-based user interface similar to what is already found on Playstation 3 (PS3), PlayStation Portable
    and a recently introduced Sony A/V receiver, made its debut in conjunction with the Internet video demo.

    Glasgow also reported that Sony Electronics enjoyed strong holiday sales in the US, which have put the company on track for a year of double-digit growth.

    PlayStation: Sony claims to have shipped one million units of PS3, equipped with high-definition, Blu-ray disc drives, in the US by the end of December.

    More High Definition: Acknowledging its position in what the company calls ‘Full HD’ across practically every product category in both consumer and professional
    arenas Sony Electronics’ home products division senior VP Randy Waynick highlighted a continuum of HD technology from the lens
    to the living room.

    Waynick previewed a prototype 55-inch SXRD Grand Wega rear projection micro-display television with a new laser light engine
    technology that enhances color uniformity and brightness, while maintaining a slim profile.

    He also recounted the success of Sony’s Bravia flat-panel LCD line, which comprises 16 models ranging in size from 23- to 52-inch screens,
    before announcing the newest member of the family, a 70-inch 1080p HD television.

    The model features a new backlighting system and contrast ratio enhancements, as well as three HDMI inputs for full 1080p connectivity to
    the latest Blu-ray Disc players. It is also distinguished by its high refresh rate and x.v.Colour technology, which is Sony’s name for xvYCC, a new international standard in colour technology for personal video applications.