Sony likely to announce drastic cost cuts: media

Japan's Sony Corp is likely to announce closures of Japanese factories and major divisions early next month, the Times of London said on Monday, but the company denied any such plan existed.

The maker of Bravia flat TVs and PlayStation video game consoles faces halting sales and mounting piles of inventory in the wake of the financial crisis, even as a stronger yen bites into earnings.

Sony,whose empire encompasses semiconductors, movies and insurance, is braced for a series of measures that would abolish some of its domestic operations and transform the electronic giant's business, the Times said, citing company sources. “We do not plan to announce additional restructuring measures at this time,” spokesman Atsuo Omagari said, in response to the report. “We don't have any such plan.

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India emerges a leader in green IT potential

India is a world leader in green IT potential, according to a recently released global enterprise survey. Indian respondents scored over respondents from 10 other countries in expecting to pay 5% or more for green technology if its benefits for the environment and return on investment (ROI) are proven. The rest of the countries lag because they scored either on expectation to pay at least 5% or more or preferring green technology with proven ROI—and not both.

Green technology, the survey explained to respondents, is technology with efficient power consumption, recyclable/reusable packaging, recycling offers for older equipment, use of non-toxic materials, or making investments in future green concepts such as alternative materials.

The survey was conducted by Green Factor, which researches and highlights green marketing opportunities. It’s a joint initiative between marketing intelligence company Strategic Oxygen, GCI Group and Cohn & Wolfe, which are from the WPP family of communication companies.

“Initially, it seems counter-intuitive that India would be number one,” explained Paul Walker, president, GCI Group, in the green enterprise report, “but this is a country experiencing a high-rate of IT investment and data centre growth—coupled with brown-outs. It makes sense that IT decision makers there would be more sensitive to environmental challenges and increasingly supportive of growing their green IT solutions.”

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Revenue sharing row keeps IPL matches off big screen

The chances of enjoying IPL matches on 75 mm screen is almost ruled out after Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd (the new name of Sony Entertainment) and the major multiplex players couldn't settle the revenue sharing arrangement. The talks fell flat when Sony refused to grant telecast rights to multiplexes for anything less than 60% of the revenue earned through screening of IPL matches, according to industry sources.

In earlier stages, Sony had insisted on charging the multiplexes around 65 to 70% of the revenue, which the industry players found difficult to concede. Additionally, the multiplex owners would have had to pay a tax on a full house for showing the event. "Such is the tax structure, that in case of category of special event sunder which the IPL format falls, we have to pay taxes for a full house even if only five people turn up. After sharing 60% of revenue with Sony and paying a tax to government for full occupancy, what would we be left with?" said a source.

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