Original synthesis to sit alongside the encyclopedia article below. Not part of Wikipedia; verify facts on Wikipedia when precision matters.
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), commonly known as Sony Pictures, is a leading global film and television entertainment subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It owns and operates iconic studios like Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures, and covers businesses including film production/distribution, TV content creation, home entertainment, and streaming media.
Key moments
1924Columbia Pictures founded as a major Hollywood studio
1989Sony acquires Columbia and TriStar Pictures, establishing Sony Pictures Entertainment
2000s onwardsExpands into global TV production and streaming services, launches platforms like Sony Pictures Core
2014Experiences a major cybersecurity hack exposing internal data and unreleased films
Sony Pictures faces intense competition across the global entertainment industry:
Traditional Hollywood Studios: Direct rivals include Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal Pictures (NBCUniversal), and Paramount Global, all of which compete for theatrical box office shares, IP ownership, and talent.
Streaming Platforms: Competes with pure-play streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock for global streaming subscribers, with Sony leveraging its extensive existing film/TV library to attract audiences alongside original content.
Regional Players: Faces local entertainment giants in key markets like Europe, Asia, and Latin America, which have stronger ties to local audience tastes.
Key advantages of Sony Pictures include its long-standing library of classic and blockbuster IP (such as Spider-Man, Jumanji, and James Bond), integrated hardware-software synergy with Sony's consumer electronics, and flexible distribution strategies that balance theatrical and streaming releases.
Competes with traditional Hollywood studios for box office and IP
Fights streaming giants for global subscriber attention
Leverages Sony Group's cross-industry synergy as a unique competitive edge
Sony Pictures is a leading global filmed entertainment brand backed by Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, with a brand identity rooted in more than a century of Hollywood content creation through its iconic subsidiaries Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures. The brand has built significant equity through its unrivaled catalog of blockbuster franchises and classic films, ranging from Spider-Man and Jumanji to iconic legacy titles that maintain ongoing audience demand globally. It leverages cross-industry synergy with Sony's broader consumer electronics and gaming ecosystem, creating unique distribution and engagement touchpoints that set it apart from standalone media brands.
As the global entertainment industry shifts between traditional theatrical exhibition and streaming, Sony Pictures has maintained a strong brand positioning through its flexible distribution strategy, balancing exclusive theatrical releases with content licensing to streaming platforms and original content production for digital outlets. It competes effectively against both consolidated traditional studios and streaming-first platforms, capitalizing on its deep IP library to generate consistent revenue and audience engagement across markets.
Sony Pictures' brand strength is anchored in its reputation for high-quality commercial content, with a track record of delivering top-grossing box office titles and award-winning television programming. While it faces intense competition from larger media conglomerates with broader vertically integrated ecosystems, Sony Pictures' distinct focus on content creation combined with its parent company's resources supports sustainable brand equity growth over time.
Brand leadership
Score: 82/100
Sony Pictures ranks among the top five major Hollywood film studios by annual global box office revenue, holding strong leadership in blockbuster franchise development and international content distribution. Its ownership of high-grossing, culturally resonant IP like the Spider-Man franchise places it at the forefront of popular commercial entertainment, though it lags behind market leaders such as Disney in total annual revenue and overall IP scale.
Consumer interaction
Score: 76/100
Sony Pictures engages consumers through multiple channels, including social media promotion for new releases, fan events for major franchises, and integration with Sony's PlayStation and smart TV platforms. It benefits from ongoing organic fan engagement with its decades-old content library, though direct ongoing consumer interaction is lower than fully integrated streaming-first brands that maintain direct, continuous relationships with subscribers.
Brand momentum
Score: 78/100
In recent years, Sony Pictures has delivered steady growth in box office performance and streaming content demand, driven by successful franchise installments and growing licensing revenue from its extensive back catalog. It has expanded original content output for streaming while retaining strong theatrical performance, creating positive brand momentum amid widespread industry disruption, though growth is constrained by intense competition for A-list talent and global audience attention.
Brand stability
Score: 85/100
Backed by the deep financial resources of parent Sony Group Corporation, Sony Pictures enjoys strong operational and financial stability, with consistent diversified revenue streams from content licensing, theatrical releases, and home entertainment. Its decades-long industry presence has allowed it to build a resilient business model that adapts to shifts in consumer behavior and distribution trends, with minimal major brand disruption over the past 35 years under Sony ownership.
Brand legacy age
Score: 90/100
The core studio properties of Sony Pictures trace their origins back to 1918 with the founding of Columbia Pictures, giving the brand a nearly 100-year legacy of continuous content creation, making it one of the oldest operating major film studios in Hollywood. This long legacy has built deep global brand recognition and trust with both audiences and industry partners, contributing significant accumulated brand equity from its well-established, aged identity.
Industry profile
Score: 88/100
Sony Pictures is a high-profile brand across the global entertainment industry, regularly featuring in major industry awards and top box office rankings, with its leadership widely recognized for pioneering flexible distribution strategies that balance traditional theatrical windowing and streaming demand. It is viewed as an innovative major studio that adapts to industry changes faster than many longer-established competitors, giving it a strong positive reputation across the global film and television sector.
Global market penetration
Score: 79/100
Sony Pictures distributes its content to more than 100 countries worldwide, with consistent strong box office performance in major international markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It benefits from Sony Group's existing regional marketing and distribution infrastructure across global markets, though it faces growing competition from local content players in key emerging regions and produces less localized original content than some fully diversified global media groups.
AI-driven analysis can support preliminary brand value reasoning for Sony Pictures, leveraging public data on industry position, IP portfolio, and market performance to inform initial valuation perspectives. All AI-generated brand value assessments for Sony Pictures are illustrative only and not independently audited for accuracy. To obtain a fully audited, official calculation of Sony Pictures' brand value, please contact World Brand Lab directly.
hq location
Poitier Building 10202 West Washington Boulevard
hq location city
Culver City, California
hq location country
United States
area served
Worldwide
key people
Ravi Ahuja (chairman and CEO)
products
Motion pictures
Television programs
Mobile entertainment
Movie theaters
production year
2025
brands
Spider-Man (joint venture with Marvel Studios for the MCU films)
Jumanji
Ghostbusters
Underworld
Men in Black
The Karate Kid
28 Days Later
services
Film production and distribution
Television production and syndication
Video on demand
Digital distribution
Licensing
revenue
US$2.295 billion‡R2R‡
revenue year
FY2025
operating income
US$197 million‡R2R‡
income year
FY2025
parent
Sony Corporation of America (1989–2012)
Sony Entertainment (2012–2019)
Sony Group Corporation (2019–present)
owner
Sony Group Corporation
divisions
Motion Picture Group
Home Entertainment Group
Television Group
Experiences
subsid
See § Subsidiaries
num employees
12,000
num employees year
2026
website
https://sonypictures.com
footnotes
‡R3R‡‡R4R‡
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., commonly referred to as Sony Pictures and abbreviated as SPE, is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment company that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and recorded videos) through multiple platforms.It was founded on December 18, 1987 as Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. from the spinoff of the Coca-Cola Company's entertainment business sector and merger with Tri-Star Pictures, Inc., with Coca-Cola initially retaining 80% in the resulting entity before reducing its stake to 49% in January 1988.The studio was wholly acquired by Sony in 1989 and renamed as SPE in 1991.
Based at the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, California, as one of the "Big Five" major American film studios, it encompasses Sony's motion picture, television production and distribution units.Sony Pictures is a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).[5]
History
1987–1989
On September 1, 1987, the Coca-Cola Company announced plans to spin off Columbia Pictures, which it had owned since 1982.Under this arrangement, Coca-Cola would sell its entertainment assets (Coca-Cola's Entertainment Business Sector) to TriStar Pictures, of which it owned 39.6%.Tri-Star would be renamed Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. (CPE), with Coca-Cola owning 49%, its shareholders owning 31%, and Tri-Star's shareholders owning 20%.[6][7] As part of a merger plan, the two television divisions Columbia/Embassy Television and Tri-Star Television, merged altogether to form a new incarnation of Columbia Pictures Television.[8]
The merger enabled three top Tri-Star executives, namely Arnold Messner, who ran Tri-Star Telecommunications
1990s
The company was renamed as Sony Pictures Entertainment on August 7, 1991.[20] The Sony Pictures name was previously used for a unit of Sony Video Software Company that started producing films as early as 1988.[21][22] Also that year, Jon Peters left Columbia to start Peters Entertainment with a three-year exclusive production agreement at the studio at first, before transitioning to a non-exclusive deal at the studio.[23] Longtime CPE employee Laurie MacDonald also left to start Aerial Pictures at the studio, first for a two-year deal, before going to 20th Century Fox in 1993, and being swallowed up by Amblin Entertainment later that year, eventually setting up DreamWorks.[24]
2000s
In July 2000, a marketing executive working for Sony Corporation created a fictitious film critic, David Manning, who gave consistently good reviews for releases from Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures that generally received poor reviews amongst real critics.[25] Sony later pulled the ads, suspended Manning's creator and his supervisor and paid fines to the state of Connecticut[26] and to fans who saw the reviewed films in the US.[27]
It expanded its operations on April 8, 2005, when a Sony-led consortium acquired the legendary Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), in a US$4.8 billion leveraged buyout, through the holding company MGM Holdings Inc.[28]
2010s
In 2011, the Sony Pictures computer network was breached and approximately one million user accounts associated with the SonyPictures.com website were leaked.[29]
On November 18, 2012, Sony Pictures announced it has passed $4 billion with the success of releases: Skyfall, The Amazing Spider-Man, 21 Jump Street, Men in Black 3, Hotel Transylvania, Underworld: Awakening, The Vow, and Resident Evil: Retribution.[30] On November 21, 2013, SPE and Sony Entertainment's CEO Michael Lynton announced that SPE will shift emphasis from movies to television by cutting its 2014 film slate.[31][32][33][34]
2020s
In April 2021, Sony signed a first-look deal with Netflix, allowing the streaming service to host their films following their theatrical runs and home media releases.[40] That same month, the company also entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company for its films to stream across Disney's streaming and linear platforms, including Disney+ and Hulu.[41]
In February 2022, Sony signed a deal with WarnerMedia Europe to stream its theatrical films on HBO Max for Central and Eastern Europe countries.[42]
On November 28, 2022, it was announced that Legendary Entertainment reached a distribution deal with Sony to distribute its future slate of films.
2014 hack
In November 2014, the Sony Pictures computer network was compromised by a group of hackers named Guardians of Peace, disabling many computers.[58] Later the same week, five of Sony Pictures' movies were leaked, including some not yet released (such as Fury and Annie), as well as confidential data about 47,000 current and former Sony employees.[59][60][61] Film historian Wheeler Winston Dixon suggested that the hack, which exposed the inner workings of the studio, was "not a pretty picture," and served as a "wake-up call to the entire industry."[62] The hack also revealed some other documents, emails between Hollywood moguls referring to Barack Obama's cinematic tastes, a possible partnership with Marvel Studios for the inclusion of the superhero Spider-Man
Sale of headquarters
In 2014, the eight-story, 260,000sq ft building originally designed by architect Maxwell Starkman and known as Sony Pictures Plaza, which was originally the headquarters of MGM Studios and later Sony Pictures Studios, was sold to Runyon Group and fellow developer LBA Realty for $159 million.[73]
Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Stacy Green
Related Sony Pictures divisions
The following are other Sony Pictures divisions that are not subsidiaries of the California-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, but are instead subsidiaries of the main Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan (SPEJ): Formerly RCA Columbia Pictures Co., Ltd.. The company plans, produces, manufactures, sells, imports, exports, leases, broadcasts and distributes movies, TV programs, videos and audio-visual software in Japan. The company website says it was established on February 10, 1984,[75] predating Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures Entertainment by 5 years. SPEJ was formed in 1991 through the merger of Columbia TriStar Japan, RCA-Columbia Pictures Video Japan, and Japan International Enterprises.[89] Based in Tokyo, Japan. The California-based Sony Pictures Entertainment holds a majority share of SPEJ.[90][91]
The merger was approved by shareholders on December 15, 1987, and it was completed three days later. Columbia and Tri-Star brands would be used as separate and autonomous production entities, and would be part of CPE as a whole, along with the prior assets, units and commitments of the former Coca-Cola Entertainment Business Sector, which included all feature, television, home video, and pay cable operations as well as the Entertainment Sector's feature production deal with Nelson Entertainment and its investment in Castle Rock Entertainment, and TeleVentures; a company it continues to own, which was linked to three independent companies: Tri-Star Pictures, Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Witt/Thomas Productions.Merv Griffin Enterprises continues to function as a separate operation.[11] A new company was formed in early 1988 with the Tri-Star name to take over the studio's operations.[12]
In early January 1988, CPE announced that they would revive the Triumph branding for the new worldwide subsidiary, Triumph Releasing Corporation, which was functioned as a theatrical distributor, marketing and promotion for Columbia and Tri-Star films, and named Patrick N. Williamson as president of the unit and the company provided administrative services related to distribution of its films in North America, while internationally, would be responsible for the direction of each studio.[13]
On September 28, 1989, Sony obtained an option to purchase all of The Coca-Cola Company's stock (approximately 54 million shares or 49% of the outstanding shares) in CPE for $27 per share.The next day, Sony also announced that it reached an agreement with Guber-Peters Entertainment Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPEC; formerly Barris Industries, Inc.) to acquire GPEC for $200 million when Sony hired Peter Guber and Jon Peters to be its co-chairmen.This was all led by Norio Ohga, who was the president and CEO of Sony during that time.[14]
The hiring of Guber and Peters by Sony to run Columbia was conflicted by a previous contract the producers had signed at Warner Bros.Time Warner's chairman, Steve Ross, threatened Sony with a lawsuit for breach of contract.The lawsuit would be subsequently dropped when Sony sold half-interest in Columbia House and cable distribution rights to Columbia's feature films, TV movies, and miniseries to Warner Bros. That same agreement also saw Columbia sell its 35% interest in the Burbank Studios and acquired Lorimar Studios, previously the MGM lot, from Warner Bros.[15][16]
On October 31, 1989, Sony completed a friendly takeover bid for the rest of shares (51%) of CPE, which was a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KPE), and acquired 99.3% of the common stock of the company.On November 8, 1989, Sony completed the acquisition by a "short-form" merger of its wholly owned subsidiary Sony Columbia Acquisition Corporation into CPE under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Sony also completed a tender offer for shares of common stock of the Guber-Peters Entertainment Company on November 6, 1989, and acquired the company 3 days later. The acquisition cost Sony $4.9 billion ($3.55 billion for shares and $1.4 billion of long-term debt) and was backed (financed) by five major Japanese banks Mitsui, Tokyo, Fuji, Mitsubishi and Industrial Bank of Japan.[17][18][19]
Sony has since created numerous other film production and distribution units, such as creating Sony Pictures Classics for art-house fare, by forming Columbia TriStar Pictures (also known as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group) by merging Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures in 1998, revitalizing Columbia's former television division Screen Gems.
On June 4, 2008, SPE's wholly owned group 2JS Productions B.V. acquired Dutch production company 2waytraffic N.V., famous for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, acquired from the original production company Celador, and You Are What You Eat for £114.3 million ($223.2 million in US dollars).
It was also announced on the same day, that there would be more Spider-Man sequels and spin-offs,
The deal also allowed Sony to distribute and have creative control on any MCU film where Spider-Man is the main character (such as Homecoming and its sequel
Spider-Man: Far From Home
), while Disney would distribute MCU films where Spider-Man appears without being the main character.
On January 22, 2014, SPE folded its technology unit into the various cores of its businesses.[37] In April, Sony Pictures arranged a film financing deal worth $200 million with LStar Capital, the credit venture of Lone Star Capital and Citibank, half in debt and the other in equity to fund most of SPE's film slate for several years.SPE was originally considering a $300 million deal with Blue Anchor Entertainment, led by Bloom Hergott partner John LaViolette and former investment banker & producer Joseph M. Singer, and backed by Longhorn Capital Management and Deutsche Bank, which was held up by regulatory matters.[38]
In November 2019, Sony purchased the remaining 42% stake in GSN from AT&T, placing it under the direction of its television division.[39]
However, this deal does not include the Dune and MonsterVerse films as they will remain at Warner Bros. The deal came after the negative impact of the merger of Warner Bros.' parent company WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery.[43]
On November 14, 2023, Sony Pictures unveiled a special centennial anniversary logo for its Columbia Pictures unit ahead of its 100th anniversary of its founding on January 10, 2024.[44]
On April 18, 2024, it was reported that Sony was interested in acquiring Paramount Global through a joint buyout with Apollo Global Management.[45][46] Sony and Apollo submitted a $26 billion all-cash offer to acquire Paramount Global on May 2, 2024.[47] A special committee of Paramount's board of directors met on May 5, 2024, and signed off on beginning deal talks with Sony and Apollo.[48] Sony would drop the deal when Paramount announced a merger with Skydance Media in July of that year.
On June 12, 2024, Sony Pictures acquired Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for an undisclosed sum.This marked the first time in more than 75 years that a major Hollywood studio would own a theater chain, as the 1948 federal ruling from United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. prevented them from owning exhibition companies until 2020.[49][50] Alamo Drafthouse will continue to operate their film festival Fantastic Fest, which is included in the acquisition.[51]
In September 2024, Sony Group announced the appointment of SPE president and COO Ravi Ahuja as CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment effective January 2, 2025, succeeding Tony Vinciquerra, who remained chairman until December 31, 2025.[52]
On December 19, 2025, Sony announced their intent to purchase a 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings, LLC. from WildBrain, with the stake being combined with sister company Sony Music Entertainment Japan's existing 39% stake in Peanuts Holdings to an controlling 80% stake, with 20% of the holding company retained by the family of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz.[53] The acquisition of the stake was finalized on March 2, 2026.[54]
On April 7, 2026, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Sony Pictures' CEO, Ravi Ahuja, announced the company would lay off "hundreds of employees" as part of a reorganization at the company to focus on "strategic priorities".[55][56][57] In a memo written to staff at the company, Ahuja said, "Over the past year, we have sharpened our strategy and clarified where we believe the greatest opportunities exist," also adding: "As we lean into those priorities, we need to operate with greater focus, speed, and alignment to strengthen our differentiated capabilities."[55][56][57]
in
Captain America: Civil War
, which was later confirmed in February 2015, amongst others.
On February 24, 2015, Tom Rothman was named chairman of SPE's motion picture group to replace Amy Pascal.[67][68]
On April 16, 2015, WikiLeaks published over 30,287 documents, 173 e-mails, and 2,200 corporate e-mail addresses of Sony Pictures' employees. WikiLeaks said in a press release that the content of the leaks were "newsworthy and at the center of a geo-political conflict" and belonged "in the public domain". Sony Pictures later condemned the hack and subsequent leaks, calling it a "malicious criminal act", while also criticizing WikiLeaks for describing the leaked content as public domain.[69][70][71]
Seth Rogen has expressed doubts about North Korea being responsible for the 2014 Sony hack.Based on the timeline of events and the amount of information hacked, he believes the hack may have been conducted by a Sony employee.[72]
Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jay Levine
Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer and Business Operations, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jill Ratner
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Drew Shearer
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Tom Rothman
Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group[74]
Keith Le Goy
Chairman, Sony Pictures Television
Katherine Pope
President, Sony Pictures Television Studios, Sony Pictures Television
Michael Kustermann
CEO, Sony Pictures Experiences and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Motion Picture Group
Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group (SPMPG):[74] Formerly Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. It is the motion picture division of SPE founded in 1998. With a library of more than 4,000 films (including 12 Academy Award for Best Picture winners), as of 2004 this unit of Sony distributes about 22 films a year under its various studio brands in 67 countries.[75] The group owns studio facilities in the United States, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Japan.
Ghost Corps: Oversees projects relating to the Ghostbusters franchise, including films, television shows, and merchandising.
Deutsche Columbia Pictures Filmproduktion: Founded in 1998 to produce films for German-speaking territories under the Columbia name. It was shut down in 2003 and was later relaunched in 2008.[76][77]
TriStar Pictures: Formed in 1982 as a joint venture between Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS. Became part of Columbia Pictures Entertainment in December 1987 and the Sony ownership in 1989. Was relaunched in 2004 as a marketing and acquisitions unit that specializes in the genre and independent films.
TriStar Productions: A film and television production company which is a joint-venture between Tom Rothman and SPE.
Screen Gems: Originally Columbia's animation division and later a television production company best known for TV's Bewitched and The Partridge Family, as well as bringing The Three Stoogesshort subjects to TV in 1958. Sony revived the Screen Gems brand in 1998 to develop mid-priced movies (production budget of between $20 million and $50 million) in specific genres such as science fiction, horror, black cinema and franchise films.
Scream Gems: A short film specialty label of Screen Gems.
Sony Pictures Imageworks: Founded in 1992, it is Sony's in-house visual effects and computer animation studio.[78]
Sony Pictures Animation: Founded in 2002, it is Sony's animation studio that produces animated feature films as well as animated television series.
Sony Pictures Classics: Founded in 1992, it is Sony's specialty film label that distributes, produces and acquires films such as documentaries, independent and arthouse films in the United States and internationally.
3000 Pictures: A production company that was launched in July 2019 by Elizabeth Gabler, former Fox 2000 Pictures president, who henced the name. This is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and HarperCollins, producing HarperCollins adaptations.
Sony Pictures Releasing: Founded in 1994[79] as a successor to Triumph Releasing Corporation. The unit handles distribution, marketing, and promotion for films produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment; including Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Classics, among others.
Sony Pictures Releasing International: Formerly known as Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International. It is the international arm of Sony Pictures Releasing.
Sony Pictures India: A production house established by Sony to release Indian movies and distribute Hollywood movies released under Columbia Pictures.
Sony Pictures International Productions: A division that produces films in local languages other than English around the world.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA): Formerly Worldwide SPE Acquisitions, Inc. A Sony division founded in 2007 which acquires and produces about 60 films per year for a wide variety of distribution platforms, especially for non-theatrical markets.
Destination Films: A motion picture company founded in 1998 which currently specializes in action, thriller, sci-fi, niche and low-end to medium-end horror films that was purchased by Sony in 2001.
Stage 6 Films: A direct-to-video label founded in 2007. Also releases some films theatrically.
Affirm Films: A motion picture label founded in 2007 to release gospel and Christian films.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE): Formerly Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, Columbia TriStar Home Video and Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Founded in 1978 as the home video arm of Columbia Pictures, it currently manufactures and distributes the Sony film and television libraries on Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and digital download.
Sony Pictures Kids Zone: Formerly Sony Kids' Music/Video, Sony Wonder and Sony Pictures Family Fun. The former music and video label of Sony Music Entertainment and later Sony BMG, it became the kids and family entertainment label of SPHE in 2007.
Kartoon Studios: Formerly Genius Brands International. An entertainment company founded by Andy Heyward in 2013. SPHE acquired a 7% minority stake in the company in 2017.
A Squared Entertainment LLC
Genius Brands Music
Kartoon Channel
Stan Lee Comics LLC: A comic book publishing and licensing company which is a joint venture between Kartoon Studios and POW! Entertainment.
Stan Lee Universe: A joint venture between Kartoon Studios and POW! Entertainment managing the likeness and IPs of comic book writer and publisher Stan Lee.
Wow Unlimited Media: A Canadian animation and media holding company founded in 2017.
Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment: A joint venture between Bob Ezrin and Michael Hirsh.
Mainframe Studios: Formerly known as Mainframe Entertainment, Rainmaker Entertainment and Rainmaker Studios, it is a Canadian animation studio founded in 1993 best known for producing ReBoot, Beast Wars: Transformers and the Barbie direct-to-video film series.
Frederator Networks: A media company founded in 2012 by Fred Seibert.
Channel Frederator Network
Cartoon Hangover
Átomo Network: A multi-channel network which is a joint venture between Frederator Networks and Ánima.
Cinematica
Frederator Digital
Frederator Studios: Formerly Frederator Incorporated. An American animation studio founded in 1997 by Fred Seibert. It is best known for producing The Fairly OddParents, Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors, Bee and PuppyCat and Castlevania.
The Leaderboard Network
Television Group
Sony Pictures Television (SPT): Formerly Sony Television Entertainment and the Columbia TriStar Television Group.[80] The successor-in-interest to Columbia's television division (first Screen Gems, later Columbia Pictures Television, TriStar Television, and Columbia TriStar Television) founded in 2002, as of 2004 the unit was producing 60 titles for various television outlets globally. Contains a library that includes more than 35,000 episodes of more than 270 television series and 22,000 game show episodes under the Sony Pictures Television brand, and the television rights to the Embassy Pictures library (including The Graduate and The Lion in Winter) and also the owner of the television division "Embassy Television"—among other notable shows in this library are Party of Five, The Shield, Seinfeld, The King of Queens, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless.
Affirm Television: The television division of Affirm Films founded in 2019 as a partnership with SPT.[81]
Embassy Row: A television and digital production company founded by Michael Davies in 2005. SPT acquired the company on January 14, 2009.
Sony Pictures Television Formats (SPTF)
Sony Pictures Television Game Shows (SPTGS): The game show production division of SPT formed in 2022.
Califon Productions: The production company responsible for Wheel of Fortune.
Jeopardy Productions: The production company responsible for Jeopardy!.
Sony Pictures Television International Production (SPTIP): Formerly Columbia TriStar International Television and Sony Pictures Television International. It is the international television production division of SPT operating several wholly owned and joint-venture companies in 12 countries.
Bad Wolf: A British television production company founded in 2021 by Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in 2015. SPT acquired the company in 2021.[82][83]
Wolf Studios Wales
Bad Wolf America: An American production established in 2019 of which sister company Bad Wolf owns 30%.
Blueprint Television: The television division of the British production company Blueprint Pictures. SPT acquired a minority stake in 2016.
Curio Pictures: Formerly Playmaker Media. An Australian production company founded in 2009 by David Taylor and David Maher. SPT acquired the company in 2014.[84]
Eleven: A British production company founded by Jamie Campbell and Joel Wilson in 2006. SPT acquired the company in 2020.
Eleventh Hour Films: A British production company founded by Jill Green in 2010. SPT acquired a minority stake in the company in 2018, then a majority stake in 2024.
Fable Pictures: A British production company founded by Faye Ward in 2016. SPT acquired a minority stake in 2016.
Floresta: A Brazilian production company founded in 2010.
Hot Sauce Pictures: A Northern Irish production company founded in 2024 by Declan Law and Adam Patterson as a joint venture with SPT.
Left Bank Pictures: A British production company founded in 2007 by Andy Harries, Francis Hopkinson, and Marigo Kehoe. SPT acquired a majority stake in 2012.
Satisfaction Group: A French production company founded in 2010 by Jacques Essebag. SPT acquired a 20% stake in 2020.
Satisfaction – The Television Agency
Satisfy
Starling
AH! Production
Enibas Productions
Elimac Productions
La Grosse Equipe
Alef One
Satisfaction Iberia
Stellify Media: A Northern Irish production company founded in 2014 by Kieran Doherty and Matthew Worthy as a joint venture with SPT.[85]
Teleset: A television production company founded in 1995. SPT acquired the company in 2009.
Sony Pictures Television Kids (SPTK): Formerly Silvergate Media. A production company founded in 2011 by Waheed Alli and William Astor. The company is best known for the animated series Hilda and Octonauts. SPT acquired the company in 2019.
Sony Pictures Television Music Development (SPTMD): The music development division of SPT formed in 2023.
Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction (SPTNF): Formerly CKX, Inc., CORE Media Group and Industrial Media. A television production company founded in 2005 by Robert F. X. Sillerman. With a library of more than 100 series broadcast in over 35 countries as of 2023, this unit produces nonfiction and documentary programming. SPT acquired the company in 2022.[86]
19 Entertainment: A television production company founded in 1985 by Simon Fuller known for producing the So You Think You Can Dance and Idol franchises.
19 Recordings: The music division of 19 Entertainment founded in 1999 by Simon Fuller.
B17 Entertainment: A television production company founded in 2013 by Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher.
Maxine Productions: A film and television production company founded in 2023 by Mary Robertson.
Rebel Minds Media: A television production company founded in 2026 by Simon Shalgosky and Daniel Brookes.
Sharp Entertainment: A television production company founded in 2003 by Matt Sharp.
This Machine Filmworks: A film and television production company founded in 2020 by R. J. Cutler.
Sony Pictures Television Studios (SPTS): A production name launched on July 25, 2017, to carry out the SPT library, starting on January 7, 2020.[87]
Sony Pictures Television Networks
United States
Game Show Network, LLC
Game Show Network (GSN): A basic cable channel launched in 1994 broadcasting game shows.
Game Show Central: A free ad-supported streaming television network broadcasting archived original programming from the GSN network.
Crunchyroll Channel: A free ad-supported streaming television network launched in 2023 broadcasting anime managed as a joint venture with Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan-owned Aniplex's Crunchyroll, LLC.
CPE US Networks, Inc.
Get
Sony Pictures Television Networks
United States
Game Show Network, LLC
Game Show Network (GSN): A basic cable channel launched in 1994 broadcasting game shows.
Game Show Central: A free ad-supported streaming television network broadcasting archived original programming from the GSN network.
Crunchyroll Channel: A free ad-supported streaming television network launched in 2023 broadcasting anime managed as a joint venture with Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan-owned Aniplex's Crunchyroll, LLC.
CPE US Networks, Inc.
Get: A digital multicast network broadcasting classic programming from the 1960s through the 2000s.
Sony Cine: A Spanish-language cable channel.
Sony Movie Channel: A cable channel launched in 2010 broadcasting films from the SPE library as well as from other distributors.
International
AXN: A general entertainment television network launched in 1997 which airs across Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Sony Channel: A brand of general entertainment channels.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI): Formerly Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited and Multi Screen Media Private Limited. Legally Culver Max Entertainment (CME), it is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation based in India founded in 1995.[88] Sony Entertainment Television and Sony SAB are its main brands. It also owns many other companies and brands under the Sony brand.
Sony Aath
Sony BBC Earth (50%, joint venture with BBC Studios)
Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Kal
Sony Marathi
Sony Max
Sony Max 2
United States
Game Show Network, LLC
Game Show Network (GSN): A basic cable channel launched in 1994 broadcasting game shows.
Game Show Central: A free ad-supported streaming television network broadcasting archived original programming from the GSN network.
Crunchyroll Channel: A free ad-supported streaming television network launched in 2023 broadcasting anime managed as a joint venture with Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan-owned Aniplex's Crunchyroll, LLC.
CPE US Networks, Inc.
Get: A digital multicast network broadcasting classic programming from the 1960s through the 2000s.
Sony Cine: A Spanish-language cable channel.
Sony Movie Channel: A cable channel launched in 2010 broadcasting films from the SPE library as well as from other distributors.
International
AXN: A general entertainment television network launched in 1997 which airs across Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Sony Channel: A brand of general entertainment channels.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI): Formerly Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited and Multi Screen Media Private Limited. Legally Culver Max Entertainment (CME), it is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation based in India founded in 1995.[88] Sony Entertainment Television and Sony SAB are its main brands. It also owns many other companies and brands under the Sony brand.
Sony Aath
Sony BBC Earth (50%, joint venture with BBC Studios)
Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Kal
Sony Marathi
Sony Max
Sony Max 2
Sony Pal
Sony Pictures Networks Productions
Sony Pix
Sony SAB
Sony Sports Network
Sony Sports Ten 1
Sony Sports Ten 2
Sony Sports Ten 3
Sony Sports Ten 4
Sony Sports Ten 5
Sony Wah
Sony YAY!
Studio NEXT
Other Sony Pictures operations
Columbia TriStar Marketing Group (CTMG)
Crunchyroll, LLC: Formerly Funimation, Inc., Funimation Productions, Ltd., Funimation Entertainment and Funimation Global Group, LLC. A distributor of anime series and films founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga and Cindy Brennan managed as a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex.
Crunchyroll: The eponymous streaming service launched in 2006. It was acquired by Sony in 2021 from Otter Media.
Crunchyroll UK and Ireland: Formerly Golden Square Music, Island World Communications, Manga Entertainment and Funimation UK and Ireland. Legally Crunchyroll Ltd., is the British division of Crunchyroll, LLC founded in 1987.
Crunchyroll Store Australia: Formerly Madman Anime. Legally Crunchyroll Pty Ltd, is the Australian division of Crunchyroll, LLC founded in 2016 by Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard.
Crunchyroll EMEA: Formerly Viz Media Europe. The division of Crunchyroll, LLC founded in 2007 that serves Africa, the Middle East and non-English speaking Europe. It was acquired by Crunchyroll in 2019 from Viz Media.
Crunchyroll SAS: The French division of Crunchyroll EMEA.
Crunchyroll SA: The Swiss division of Crunchyroll EMEA.
Crunchyroll GmbH: The German division of Crunchyroll EMEA.
Crunchyroll Games: The gaming division of Crunchyroll, LLC.
Hayate: An animation studio launched in 2025 which is a joint venture between Crunchyroll and Aniplex.
Madison Gate Records: A music record label of SPE founded in 2010 specializing in soundtracks and other recordings derived from feature films, television series and other media.
Peanuts Holdings: A joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment Japan, together owning 80%, and the estate of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, owning 20%. SPE and SMEJ jointly acquired 41% from WildBrain in 2026.
Peanuts Worldwide: A licensing and management subsidiary of Peanuts Worlwide established in 2010 to oversee the Peanuts brand following the acquisition of the related assets from United Media by Iconix Brand Group.
Pixomondo (PXO): An international visual effects and virtual production studio founded in 2001 by Thilo Kuther. SPE acquired the company in 2022.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products: The consumer products division of SPE.
Sony Pictures Cable Ventures, Inc.
Columbia Pictures Corporation Limited: Offices located at The Brunel Building, 2 Canalside Walk, London, England
Sony Pictures Interactive
Sony Pictures Studios: The actual physical buildings, land and movie-making equipment properties in Culver City, California. Includes 22 sound stages, ranging in size from 7,600 to 43,000 square feet (700 to 4,000 m2)
Sony Pictures Digital Productions Inc. (SPDP): Formerly Columbia TriStar Interactive, Sony Pictures Interactive Network and Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment. A subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation based in Japan founded in 1994 known for designing the Sony Pictures website.[92]
15.Warner, Sony settle suit over producers (November 17, 1989). Los Angeles: Associated Press.^
16.Medavoy, Mike and Young, Josh (2002). You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot (p. 210). New York City: Atria Books^
network broadcasting classic programming from the 1960s through the 2000s.
Sony Cine: A Spanish-language cable channel.
Sony Movie Channel: A cable channel launched in 2010 broadcasting films from the SPE library as well as from other distributors.
International
AXN: A general entertainment television network launched in 1997 which airs across Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Sony Channel: A brand of general entertainment channels.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI): Formerly Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited and Multi Screen Media Private Limited. Legally Culver Max Entertainment (CME), it is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation based in India founded in 1995.[88] Sony Entertainment Television and Sony SAB are its main brands. It also owns many other companies and brands under the Sony brand.
Sony Aath
Sony BBC Earth (50%, joint venture with BBC Studios)
Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Kal
Sony Marathi
Sony Max
Sony Max 2
Sony Pal
Sony Pictures Networks Productions
Sony Pix
Sony SAB
Sony Sports Network
Sony Sports Ten 1
Sony Sports Ten 2
Sony Sports Ten 3
Sony Sports Ten 4
Sony Sports Ten 5
Sony Wah
Sony YAY!
Studio NEXT
United States
Game Show Network, LLC
Game Show Network (GSN): A basic cable channel launched in 1994 broadcasting game shows.
Game Show Central: A free ad-supported streaming television network broadcasting archived original programming from the GSN network.
Crunchyroll Channel: A free ad-supported streaming television network launched in 2023 broadcasting anime managed as a joint venture with Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan-owned Aniplex's Crunchyroll, LLC.
CPE US Networks, Inc.
Get: A digital multicast network broadcasting classic programming from the 1960s through the 2000s.
Sony Cine: A Spanish-language cable channel.
Sony Movie Channel: A cable channel launched in 2010 broadcasting films from the SPE library as well as from other distributors.
International
AXN: A general entertainment television network launched in 1997 which airs across Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Sony Channel: A brand of general entertainment channels.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI): Formerly Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited and Multi Screen Media Private Limited. Legally Culver Max Entertainment (CME), it is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation based in India founded in 1995.[88] Sony Entertainment Television and Sony SAB are its main brands. It also owns many other companies and brands under the Sony brand.
Sony Aath
Sony BBC Earth (50%, joint venture with BBC Studios)
