GECs
TV boosts Sony results, but films let it down
MUMBAI: Sony’s US entertainment unit, Sony Pictures Entertainment, SPE, has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2004.
The results shows a 40 per cent decline in operating profit to 35.2 billion yen ($321.8 million) for the fiscal year ended 31 March on a 6 per cent decline in revenue to 756.4 billion yen ($6.9 billion) as poor box office performance of SPE’s movies Gigli, Hollywood Homicide, The Missing, and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle triggered a negative impact on its financial results.
Sales decreased 5.8 per cent compared with the prior year (2 per cent increase on a dollar basis). The dollar revenues represented a new record for SPE, thanks to an increase in television revenues. But even strong syndication sales of The King of Queens, Seinfeld, and an extension of Wheel of Fortune licensing deals failed to do amends to SPE’s poor show on the movies front.
Operating income decreased by 23.7 billion yen, or 40.3 per cent, from the prior year (30 per cent decrease on a dollar basis). In the previous fiscal year, SPE had Spider-Man lifting its financial position significantly. According to the company, the lack of a mega-box office money-spinner on the level of Spider-Man contributed heavily to this year’s losses.
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(Billions of yen, millions of U.S. dollars)
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Year ended 31 March 2004
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| 2003 | 2004 | Change | 2004 | |
| Sales and operating revenue | Y802.8 | Y756.4 |
-5.8%
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$7,273 |
| Operating income |
59.0
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35.2
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-40.3
|
339
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SPE’s results had a mixed effect on its Japanese parent company Sony Corp. The company reported 23 per cent decline in fiscal-year profit to 88.5 billion yen ($808.8 million) but posted a 0.3 per cent rise in revenue to 7.5 trillion yen ($68.5 billion).
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
