Sony Corporation is looking at raising its presence in the Indian films market. The company has tied up with Indian filmmakers and also plans to distribute Indian content internationally.
This was stated by Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO, Sony Corporation, in Mumbai today. "We're not just here to pass through India," he said.
His address follows Sony Pictures signing a co-production deal with film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Thursday for his film Saawariya (Beloved). This is Sony's first such deal in the country.
Sony is also in the process of setting up arms for software development in the country. These software will be incorporated into Sony products.
Sony Corporation has a software centre in Bangalore that develops technologies for home networks, digital media platforms and Internet-enabled consumer electronic devices.
The overall mandate for Sony Corporation is to drive the power of content towards the sale of hardware and synergise both the businesses, Stringer said. He also stressed on breaking down the barrier between all their businesses - content, hardware, music and gaming.
Stringer also stated that Sony has been restructured to move from analogue horizontal mode to a digital vertical mode. Moving ahead, he stated that hi-definition products would be the focus area for Sony. For India, he stated that the mandate was clearly to redefine the digital drive.
Sony currently owns 50 per cent of all the colour films being produced by Columbia Tristar and MGM. He added that the company has also managed to optimise returns from cricket broadcasts.
"We are now very quickly going to move from a restructuring phase to a growth phase. And we see a tremendous opportunity in the high definition area as there are no gaps in our product offerings anymore," he concluded.
