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After the failed Zee merger, what will happen to Sony? The CEO of the company discloses its India strategy.

After the failed Zee merger, what will happen to Sony? The CEO of the company discloses its India strategy.

By Kajal Sharma - 18 Feb 2024 08:35 PM

"Overview ""India has significant long-term growth potential. This market has a lot of appeal. Consequently, in response to a question concerning the company's plans in India following the cancellation of the proposed merger, Totoki stated, ""We will attempt to seek various opportunities and see if we can find another opportunity that would replace this type of plan."" According to a senior business official, Sony will explore a number of possibilities now that the planned merger of its Indian branch with Zee has been canceled. These would include looking for an alternative plan and exploring organic development chances in India, which has enormous long-term potential. Hiroki Totoki, president, COO, and CFO of Sony, stated during an earnings call that the company will keep making investments in India since it is a very good market. ""India has significant long-term growth potential. This market has a lot of appeal. Consequently, in response to a question concerning the company's plans in India following the cancellation of the proposed merger, Totoki stated, ""We will attempt to seek various opportunities and see if we can find another opportunity that would replace this type of plan."" He commented, ""Well, that investment is not going to change a capital allocation or our behavior in our investment,"" in reference to the investment Sony had made as part of the agreement. Thus, we don't yet have any firm plans."" February 14 was the day of the earnings call. According to the terms of the merger that ZEEL and Sony agreed upon, Additionally, the Japanese behemoth was expected to contribute USD 1.5 billion to the combined company.

He stated in the investor call that the company will keep pursuing organic development in line with its plan in India, where it conducts business through Culver Max Entertainment (formerly known as Sony Pictures Network India). The arrangement between Sony and ZEEL to combine its two Indian companies, Culver Max Entertainment and Bangla Entertainment Private Limited (BEPL), was terminated last month. Sony Group Corporation (SGC) claimed that ZEEL had not complied with the merger requirements and had filed for arbitration before SIAC, requesting a termination cost of USD 90 million (about Rs 748.5 crore). In a petition to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), ZEEL requested that Sony Group be directed to...Over 700 million people watch the 26 channels that Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan, owns and operates in Hindi and numerous other languages. In addition, it offers live sports, movies, short films, as well as its own original and archived material, on its single OTT platform, Sony LIV. There are about 33 million people who watch it."

 

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