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Tag: Sony Pictures Entertainment

  • Sony moves ahead with own distributors in four SE Asian countries post Spider-Man’s success

    Sony moves ahead with own distributors in four SE Asian countries post Spider-Man’s success

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly planning to launch distributors of its own in four countries after terminating a longstanding theatrical-releasing joint venture with Disney in Southeast Asia. Sony has plans to launch Sony Pictures Releasing units in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, Variety reported.

    SPE’s new strategy reflects an optimism that the individual markets in SE Asia will continue to grow despite competition from online streaming services. Sony’s JV with Disney was established in 1997 as a way of controlling infrastructure costs in the then-small Southeast Asian market. It had also helped maximize the studios’ negotiating and marketing power in the region.

    In Singapore, Robert Crockett will continue as the managing director, overseeing Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Simon Foo will become the AGM and country manager for Malaysia. Foo will oversee day-to-day operations in addition to his distribution and sales responsibilities, SPE SVP – international distribution Brett Hogg announced.

    James Rachot Dhiraputra returns to the company to become Thailand MD along with Thailand executive director of marketing Dujdao Promobol.

    Thai media had quoted Dhiraputra as saying he is targeting $24 million of gross revenues from the 19 movies. It was not clear whether $8 million from the first major SPE title under the new banner “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is part of that amount.

  • Oppo associates with Sony Pictures for Spider-Man

    MUMBAI: The camera phone brand Oppo has established an association with Sony Pictures Entertainment on Spider-Man: Homecoming. The brand brought fans an exclusive fan screening in Mumbai.

    In India, Oppo became the official sponsor of Team India, Men’s and Women’s National Cricket Team in 2017. It is also the official global partner of ICC in the mobile category for four years starting 2016.

    With the new association, Oppo will be further strengthening its foot in the entertainment sector with movies, to engage with fans and the youth. Oppo’s brand director Will Yang said, “Association with such youth-centric properties has been Oppo’s focus area to reach its target audience and make space for the brand in each of our consumers’ heart. Spider-Man: Homecoming as a movie event resonates well with the young audience and hence becomes the perfect platform of association for us.”

    As a part of this association, Oppo has also launched a new TVC in collaboration with Spider-Man: Homecoming.

    Along with the release of the movie, Oppo has planned to run an online campaign, starting from 7 July after the release of the movie till 14 July. Oppo started the era of selfies and was the first brand to launch smartphones with 16MP front cameras.

  • SPN India to feature in SPE growth in 2018

    BENGALURU: Sony Corp (Sony) had an investors’ day on 23 May 2017 pertaining to the results for its financial year ended 31 March 2017 (FY-17). It its investor presentation, the company has forecast 12.7 percent growth in revenue of its Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) group to $9,346 million for fiscal 2018 from $8,292 million in FY-17.

    Sony’s Pictures segment is comprised of the Motion Pictures, Television Productions, and Media Networks categories.

    SPE’s Media Networks growth driven by GSN and India, somewhat offset by TEN Sports, will be among the largest factors that will impact performance positively for fiscal 2018. The company forecasts 28 percent growth in operating income to $359 million in FY-18 from $280 million in fiscal 2017 for SPE. Sony Pictures Network India (SPN India) is a part of SPE.

    Sony has planned strategies for growth of its SPE group in fiscal 2018. These include implementing turnaround for its Motion Pictures segment. Sony Corp reported a steep drop in operating income for fiscal 017, which it says was mainly due to the US$962 million (¥112.1 billion yen) impairment charge of goodwill recorded in the Motion Pictures segment.

    For SPE’s Television Production segment, Sony plans to maintain and strengthen relationships with top content producers and major networks, while for SPE’s Media Networks segment Sony plans to generate stable profit through recurring revenue business model.

    In FY-17, Sales for the SPE decreased 3.7 percent (a 5 percent increase on a U.S. dollar basis) primarily due to the impact of the appreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar. The increase in sales on a US dollar basis was primarily due to higher sales for Television Productions and Media Networks. Sales for Television Productions increased primarily due to higher subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) licensing revenues. The increase in sales for Media Networks was due to higher advertising and subscription revenues mainly in India, Latin America and the US says the company.

    The company has also announced Anthony Vinciquerra as chairman and CEO of SPE effective 1 June 2017.

  • Sony Entertainment CEO Lynton stepping down; Hirai to take on more responsibility

    Sony Entertainment CEO Lynton stepping down; Hirai to take on more responsibility

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton will on 2 February reportedly step down as he plans to focus on his role as the chairman of the board of Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat.

    The entertainment industry is undergoing major transformative changes, and Lynton’s expertise in the media and entertainment space had been invaluable. Lynton implemented structural and management changes at Sony which would help its music business sustain its good momentum, and the pictures business to set the path for restoring profitability, although Sony recognises the challenges in the motion-pictures business would take some time.

    Lynton will however stay on as co-CEO of Sony Entertainment for six months, overseeing the music and pictures businesses, and as the CEO of Sony Corporation of America and Sony Pictures Entertainment, so as to help a smooth change-over, the World Screen has reported.

    Tokyo-based Sony Corporation president and CEO Kazuo Hirai is scheduled to take on an enhanced hands-on role within the company’s television, movie and music division.

    Lynton has said that it had been an extraordinary 13 years and an honour to work with Sony’s some of the most creative and talented people in the entertainment space. He said he had been involved with Snapchat since its early days, and, given its rise since, decided the time was ripe to focus on his role as the Snap Inc. board chairman.

    Hirai said he wanted to thank Lynton for his strong leadership at Sony throughout his illustrious career.

  • Sony Entertainment CEO Lynton stepping down; Hirai to take on more responsibility

    Sony Entertainment CEO Lynton stepping down; Hirai to take on more responsibility

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton will on 2 February reportedly step down as he plans to focus on his role as the chairman of the board of Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat.

    The entertainment industry is undergoing major transformative changes, and Lynton’s expertise in the media and entertainment space had been invaluable. Lynton implemented structural and management changes at Sony which would help its music business sustain its good momentum, and the pictures business to set the path for restoring profitability, although Sony recognises the challenges in the motion-pictures business would take some time.

    Lynton will however stay on as co-CEO of Sony Entertainment for six months, overseeing the music and pictures businesses, and as the CEO of Sony Corporation of America and Sony Pictures Entertainment, so as to help a smooth change-over, the World Screen has reported.

    Tokyo-based Sony Corporation president and CEO Kazuo Hirai is scheduled to take on an enhanced hands-on role within the company’s television, movie and music division.

    Lynton has said that it had been an extraordinary 13 years and an honour to work with Sony’s some of the most creative and talented people in the entertainment space. He said he had been involved with Snapchat since its early days, and, given its rise since, decided the time was ripe to focus on his role as the Snap Inc. board chairman.

    Hirai said he wanted to thank Lynton for his strong leadership at Sony throughout his illustrious career.

  • Thought Pot Media forays into video production with Thought Pot Studios

    Thought Pot Media forays into video production with Thought Pot Studios

    MUMBAI: Thought Pot Media, listed amongst the leading digital agencies in the country, has announced its foray into video production under the banner Thought Pot Studios with the launch of their first brand film. This vertical will focus on creating innovative and high impact video content encompassing short films, web series, TVCs amongst others. Founded by Abhijeet Chandan and Pooja Jain in 2013, Thought Pot Media’s impressive clientele includes some of the biggest name across industries like Dharma Productions, Hindustan Pencils, Unibic Cookies, Playstation India, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Truecaller among many others. After setting a benchmark in the digital media marketing landscape, with the launch of Thought Pot Studios, Thought Pot Media promises to do the same in the video production domain as well.

    Speaking about the launch of Thought Pot Studios, Pooja Jain, Co-founder & Business Head, Thought Pot Media said, “After completing four years of exploring and experimenting with the digital medium to create engaging storylines with the consumers, we are now looking at delving into another aspect of storytelling with Thought Pot Studios. This brand film is just a start, we are looking forward to creating innovative and disruptive content in the coming future.”

    Thought Pot Studios will launch with its first brand film on Daughter’s Day with Nobel Hygiene, a leading healthcare brand.

  • Thought Pot Media forays into video production with Thought Pot Studios

    Thought Pot Media forays into video production with Thought Pot Studios

    MUMBAI: Thought Pot Media, listed amongst the leading digital agencies in the country, has announced its foray into video production under the banner Thought Pot Studios with the launch of their first brand film. This vertical will focus on creating innovative and high impact video content encompassing short films, web series, TVCs amongst others. Founded by Abhijeet Chandan and Pooja Jain in 2013, Thought Pot Media’s impressive clientele includes some of the biggest name across industries like Dharma Productions, Hindustan Pencils, Unibic Cookies, Playstation India, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Truecaller among many others. After setting a benchmark in the digital media marketing landscape, with the launch of Thought Pot Studios, Thought Pot Media promises to do the same in the video production domain as well.

    Speaking about the launch of Thought Pot Studios, Pooja Jain, Co-founder & Business Head, Thought Pot Media said, “After completing four years of exploring and experimenting with the digital medium to create engaging storylines with the consumers, we are now looking at delving into another aspect of storytelling with Thought Pot Studios. This brand film is just a start, we are looking forward to creating innovative and disruptive content in the coming future.”

    Thought Pot Studios will launch with its first brand film on Daughter’s Day with Nobel Hygiene, a leading healthcare brand.

  • Sony Pictures names Randy Lake as president – studio ops & Imageworks

    Sony Pictures names Randy Lake as president – studio ops & Imageworks

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Randy Lake as president – studio operations & Imageworks.

     

    Lake oversees all operations, strategy and planning for Sony Pictures Imageworks, Post Production Services, Production Services, Global Mastering and Servicing, and Asset Management.

     

    He will continue to report jointly to Sony Pictures Television chairman Steve Mosko and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman.

     

    Lake was previously executive vice president, studio operations and general manager – Imageworks.

     

    “Randy is a skilled executive with a keen sense of strategy and clear vision for the future of the studio. He has proven his value to the company in a variety of roles over the years and we are delighted to acknowledge his contribution with this promotion,” said Mosko

     

    Rothman added, “Randy has one of the sharpest minds in the business and we are thrilled to have him at the helm of our leaner, more efficient, and more effective studio operations and visual effects businesses.”

     

    Lake joined Sony Pictures in 2006 from Booz Allen, where he served as a strategy consultant to the entertainment, media, and technology industries. He began his career as a securities attorney with Brobeck, Pheleger, Harrison in San Francisco, advising emerging growth technology companies, underwriters and venture investors.

  • Sony Pictures names Randy Lake as president – studio ops & Imageworks

    Sony Pictures names Randy Lake as president – studio ops & Imageworks

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Randy Lake as president – studio operations & Imageworks.

     

    Lake oversees all operations, strategy and planning for Sony Pictures Imageworks, Post Production Services, Production Services, Global Mastering and Servicing, and Asset Management.

     

    He will continue to report jointly to Sony Pictures Television chairman Steve Mosko and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman.

     

    Lake was previously executive vice president, studio operations and general manager – Imageworks.

     

    “Randy is a skilled executive with a keen sense of strategy and clear vision for the future of the studio. He has proven his value to the company in a variety of roles over the years and we are delighted to acknowledge his contribution with this promotion,” said Mosko

     

    Rothman added, “Randy has one of the sharpest minds in the business and we are thrilled to have him at the helm of our leaner, more efficient, and more effective studio operations and visual effects businesses.”

     

    Lake joined Sony Pictures in 2006 from Booz Allen, where he served as a strategy consultant to the entertainment, media, and technology industries. He began his career as a securities attorney with Brobeck, Pheleger, Harrison in San Francisco, advising emerging growth technology companies, underwriters and venture investors.

  • Sony Pictures bolsters international production team with dual hires

    Sony Pictures bolsters international production team with dual hires

    MUMBAI: In two new hires that bolster Sony Pictures Entertainment’s moves to expand the creation of international films and television for worldwide markets, the studio has named Diego Suarez as senior vice president, international television production, and Matthew Stein as vice president, international film production.

     

    The duo will report to Sony Pictures Entertainment president of international film and television Sanford Panitch.

     
    In their new roles, Suarez and Stein will acquire and develop both local and international film and television content with key international production partners. 

     

    Panitch said, “Diego Suarez is for me the definition of the modern international television executive with his wide-ranging experience at both the studio level and in the international channel business. We see tremendous opportunity in producing both international and local language television content, and we are thrilled to have Diego join the team. In Matt Stein, we get a resourceful film executive with a well-trained background in overseeing smartly budgeted film franchises. He will be an asset in further igniting our local production activities, and in finding internationally oriented films for the world.”

     

    Suarez comes to SPE from Fox21 Television Studios, where he was senior vice president, creative affairs. Some of the projects Suarez brought in to the studio include The Queen of the South to air on USA in January 2016, as well as Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, based on the 1988 hit film from Pedro Almodovar, and Hamelin, written by award-winning Spanish filmmaker Paco Plaza.

     

    Prior to his tenure at Fox21, Suarez served stints at Fox International Channels, Italy; Spain’s television production companies Boca Boca Producciones; and at Cuatrocabezas (Eyeworks).

    On the other hand, Stein joins SPE after most recently serving as independent producer on a variety of feature film projects. Prior, Stein held the role of executive vice president of Production at Dimension Films, where he oversaw production and development for the company.