Sony Pictures No More?

[CamVader]

Sony has a studio production arm which has nothing to do with its core businesses of consumer electronics and gaming. Sony bought what was Columbia Tri-Star Picture in 1989 for $3.4 billion. This entertainment operation has done poorly recently. Sony's fiscal year ends in March, and for the period, revenue for the group dropped 15% to $7.2 billion and operating income fell by 10% to $466 million. Sony is in trouble. It lost $3.1 billion in its latest fiscal year on revenue of $86.5 billion. Sony's gaming system group is under siege by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT - News) and Nintendo. Its consumer electronics group faces an overwhelming challenge from Apple. The company's future prospects have been further damaged by the Japan earthquake and the hack of its large PlayStation Network. CEO Howard Stringer is under pressure to do something to increase the value of Sony's shares. The only valuable asset with which he can easily part is Columbia which would attract interest from a number of large media operations. Sony Entertainment will disappear with the sale of its assets.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/112989/brands-disappear-2012-247

Who do you think the buyer will be? We'll start an office pool.

My guess is DirecTV.

 

[PaulGriffith]

There was a rumor like 6 months ago that Apple was trying to out right buy Sony all together, just to get it's hands on the Music (largest collection in the world) and Movie library and then sell off the electronics part.

If Apple did get the library, it would suck for consumers. ITunes would probably become the only outlet for said movies and music. I'm an iTunes fan, but not if it's a monopoly.

 

[SinEater]

To be honest, I wouldn't be completely surprised to see Netflix make a move for it. They have some surplus cash and it would seem to be a logical step to gain a foothold towards content creation.