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SONY

Sony's Electronics Business

Sony's Electronics Products

Sony's Entertainment Business

Sony's Entertainment Products

Sony's Insurance and Financing

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Directors - Japan

Columbia Pictures UK

My interest in the Coca-Cola Company stems from its acquisition of Columbia Pictures Industries in 1982.
My interest is attached to a film though I try not to lose my head over it.
My interest in Sony has increased since its acquisition of Columbia Pictures Entertainment from The Coca-Cola Company in 1989.

"Effective November 1994, Mr. Akio Morita is Founder and Honorary Chairman of Sony Corporation. Although he follows and is informed on various company matters, he no longer is involved in the day to day operations of the company. "

For revenue reporting purposes, Sony classifies its business into three segments: Electronics Business, which includes Video Equipment, Audio Equipment, Televisions, and Other Products; Entertainment Business, which includes Music Group and Pictures Group; and Insurance and Financing.

1950 company produced the first Japanese tape recorder

1953 Morita paid Western Electric (US) $25,000 for transistor technology licenses

1955 company launched one of the first transistor radios

1957 first Sony-trademarked product, a pocket-sized radio

1958 company changed its name to Sony

1959 introduced the first transistor TV

1960 Morita moved to New York to oversee US expansion.

1964 launched the first home video recorder

Sony's Electronics Business

Sony's electronic products are sold throughout the world under the trademark "Sony," which has been registered in 190 countries and territories. In most cases, sales of Sony's electronic products are made to subsidiaries of the Company located in diverse geographical areas, and these subsidiaries sell to local distributors and dealers. In some locations, the Company sells directly to local distributors.

In Japan, consumer-use electronic products are marketed through six sales companies. Three of these companies sell the full lines of Sony products. The other three companies specialize in selling car audio and electronic products, recording media and batteries, and electronic products for tourists. The six sales companies distribute Sony products to about 30,000 retail outlets throughout Japan. For non-consumer electronic products, the Company has sales companies in Tokyo and sales offices throughout the country which sell products to wholesalers, manufacturers and industrial and professional users.

In North America, Sony Electronics Inc. markets Sony's electronic products for both consumer and non-consumer use in the U.S. This subsidiary has 15 sales and distribution branches and offices throughout the U.S. In Canada, Sony markets its electronic products through Sony of Canada Ltd.

1965 solid-state condenser microphone

1966 integrated circuit-based radio

1968 introduction of the Trinitron color TV tube

1976 Betamax VCR

1979 The Walkman

1980s introduced Japan's first 32-bit workstation and became a major producer of computer chips and floppy disk drives. It also developed compact disc technology in partnership with Philips.

1988 acquired CBS Records from CBS for $2 billion

1989 acquired Columbia Pictures from Coca-Cola

In Europe, Sony's electronic products for both consumer and non-consumer use are marketed through its sales subsidiaries, including Sony United Kingdom Limited, Sony Deutschland G.m.b.H. and Sony France S.A.

In overseas areas other than North America and Europe, Sony's electronic products are marketed through sales subsidiaries, including Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited, Sony Gulf FZE and Sony Comercio e Industria Ltda. In areas where the Company has no subsidiary, it markets its products through local distributors.

Sony's Electronic Products

Sony Computing

Sony Electronics

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Sony High Performance Data Storage Products

Sony Japan MiniDisc Page

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Sony A/V Electronics

Sony Digital Video Cassette
(Japanese Only)

Video Equipment:

Sony offers a wide range of video equipment, including 8mm, VHS, Beta, and Consumer-Use Digital VCR Specifications (DV format) home-use videotape recorders (VTRs), laserdisc (LD) players, video CD players, broadcast- and industrial-use video equipment, Japanese high-definition TV standard (Hi-Vision)-related equipment, and videotapes. In September 1995, Sony launched Digital Handycam camcorders based on the DV-format and mini DV cassettes in Japan, the U.S., and Europe.

Audio Equipment:

Audio Equipment offered by Sony includes MiniDisc (MD) systems, CD players, headphone stereos, personal component stereos, hi-fi components, digital audio tape (DAT) recorders/players, radio-cassette tape recorders, tape recorders, radios, headphones, car stereos, car navigation systems, professional-use audio equipment, audiotapes, and blank MDs. Sony is working to expand the markets for its extensive MD system lineup, which includes MD Walkman models, MD decks, and compact stereo systems that incorporate MD decks.

Sony DVD Technical Information

Televisions

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Publisher of digital maps and supporting software to enhance the way people work, play and travel

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Televisions:

Televisions offered by Sony include color TVs, Hi-Vision TVs, projection TVs, satellite broadcasting reception systems, computer displays, professional-use monitors/projectors, and large color video display systems. Sony's computer displays equipped with Trinitron cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are well regarded worldwide for their excellent quality and high resolution.

Other Products:

Other Products offered by Sony include semiconductors, electronic components, CRTs, data storage systems, computers, telecommunications equipment, home video game system, batteries, and factory automation (FA) systems. Following its launch in Japan in December 1994, the 32-bit home video game system PlayStation was introduced into the U.S. and Europe in September 1995.

Sony's Entertainment Business

SMEI and SMEJ market and distribute CDs, MDs, LDs, records, and pre-recorded audio and video cassettes. SMEI conducts this business in the U.S. under the "Columbia," "Epic," "Sony Classical" and other labels. The Columbia House Company, a 50:50 partnership between SMEI and a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., is engaged in direct marketing of music and home-video products in the U.S. and Canada.

SMEI's affiliates located outside the U.S. conduct the aforesaid business in countries other than the U.S. and Japan.

SPE generally secures all rights relating to the worldwide distribution of its internally produced motion pictures, including rights for theatrical exhibition, home videocassette, and LD distribution, pay and free television exhibition and other markets. SPE may also acquire distribution rights to motion pictures produced by other companies, and these rights may be limited to particular geographic regions or specific forms of media. SPE uses its own distribution services business for the U.S. theatrical release of its films and those acquired from and produced by others. Outside the U.S., SPE generally distributes and markets the films through one of its Columbia Tristar Film Distributors International subsidiaries. However, in certain countries, SPE has joint distribution facilities with other studios or arrangements with independent local distributors.

The worldwide home video distribution of motion pictures, television programs and other video products of SPE (and those acquired or licensed from others) is handled through Columbia TriStar Home Video.

SPE produces television programming and licenses it to network television for prime time or daytime broadcast and, in certain instances, for first-run syndication or directly to cable services. SPE also licenses rights to its library of television programming and motion pictures to network affiliates and independent stations in the U.S. and to international television stations and other broadcasters throughout the world.

The Pictures Group, through Sony Retail Entertainment's Sony Theatres division, exhibits its own and other motion picture companies' films. SPE also distributes its films for theatrical exhibition in theatres operated by others.

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Music Screeners
Sony Music video screensavers and games

Sony Music
The home of Columbia, Epic, and other Associated Labels.

Sony Music Austria

Sony Music Canada
News, tour dates, album details, pictures, sounds and videos for Canada's finest artists

Sony Music France

Sony Music Germany

Sony's Entertainment Business Procucts

Music Group:

SMEI and SMEJ produce, manufacture, market and distribute CDs, MDs, LDs, records, and pre-recorded audio and video cassettes, and produce and manufacture CD-ROMs. They hold contracts with many top artists worldwide in all musical genres. Sony has a leading CD production capacity, with plants in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and the U.S. A new optical disc manufacturing facility in Springfield, Oregon became operational in summer 1995.

Pictures Group

Pictures Group's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, theatrical exhibition, home video distribution, development and implementation of new entertainment technologies, operation of studio facilities and distribution of filmed entertainment worldwide.

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Kids'' audio, video, book & tape

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Station, The
Offers interactive entertainment programming on five channels: music, gameShows, gamers, kids, and dramas.

SPE's motion picture arm, the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Companies, includes Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Triumph Films, Sony Pictures Releasing, and Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International, SPE's international theatrical business.

SPE's Television Group, Sony Television Entertainment, is comprised of Columbia TriStar Television, Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, and Columbia TriStar International Television, SPE's international television business.

SPE's home video operations are conducted through Columbia TriStar Home Video.

SPE also manages two studio facilities, Sony Pictures Studios and The Culver Studios, both of which are located at SPE's world headquarters in Culver City, California.

Through Sony Retail Entertainment's Sony Theatres division, Sony currently operates 929 motion picture screens in 148 locations.

Insurance and Financing:

Insurance and Financing consists principally of the individual life insurance business operated in Japan by Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and certain consumer financing and leasing businesses conducted by Sony Finance International, Inc. in Japan.