News Broadcasting
Sony Corp’s Q1 net income up over 1000 %
MUMBAI: Japan’s Sony Corporation has posted a first quarter net ncome of Y23.3 billion. This marks an increase of 1,975 per cent from last year’s first quarter Y1.1 billion.
The company partly attributed the results to gains at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, which contributed Y 5.8 billion to net income, versus a similar loss last year.
Its sales and revenue increased marginally to Y1,603.8 from Y1,612.1 in the same quarter last year. However its operating income was down 41.4 per cent to Y9.8 from Y16.7.
In the Electronics segment, although sales to outside customers increased, overall sales decreased by 0.2 per cent due to a significant decline in intersegment sales to the Game segment. This was due to the outsourcing of PlayStation 2 production to third parties in China.
Sales of flat panel and LCD rear projection televisions and digital still cameras increased, while sales of portable audio and CRT televisions decreased. Sales declined in the Game segment due to lower sales of hardware. Sales increased in the music segment due to a string of successful releases. In the pictures segment, although sales on a US dollar basis increased, sales decreased due to the appreciation of the yen.
In the Electronics segment, operating income declined mainly due to the appreciation of the yen and an increase in restructuring charges. In the Game segment, an operating loss was recorded mainly due to lower sales of software published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
In the Pictures segment, operating income was recorded compared with an operating loss in the same quarter of the previous year due to the successful performance of home entertainment and theatrical releases. This included titles like 50 First Dates and Big Fish .Spider-Man 2, Hellboy and 13 Going on 30. all performed well in cinemas.
Sony chairman and CEO Nobuyuki Idei said,” The consolidated results when viewed on a local currency basis demonstrated both increased revenue and increased profits. However, due to the appreciation of the yen, operating income declined and only a slight increase in sales could be realised for the first quarter ended 30 June 2004.
“Net income increased significantly mainly due to the contribution of equity in net income including that from Sony Ericsson. In addition, the worldwide theatrical release of Spider-Man 2 beginning at the end of June is proving to be a huge success.”
Looking to the future he added, “For the Sony Group, the fiscal year ending 31 March 2005 has been earmarked as an important year for strengthening the foundation necessary for achieving mid- to long-term growth. We will continue to enhance the competitiveness of our products in key categories such as digital AV products, and will release enticing new products such as the new PlayStation Portable handheld video game system. In addition, by investing proactively in key components such as semiconductors and LCD panels, we are striving to increase the proportion of components developed internally in order to incorporate added-value into the Sony Group.
“In the Music segment, the establishment of a joint venture with Bertelsmann AG is aimed at improving profitability by enhancing management efficiencies and generating benefits from increased business size.”
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI:Â Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
