AUDIO

Movies and Games Lift Sony’s Profits

Sony reported a strong rise in profit on November 5, helped by its movie and gaming businesses. The Japanese company’s operating profit, a measure of earnings from its business activities, rose 45 percent to 622.3 billion yen in its second quarter. The hit film Spider-Man: Brand New Day helped improve the results. Sony also raised its profit forecast for the full year. However, the results were not equally strong across every part of the business. Sony sold 2.6 million PlayStation 5 consoles during the quarter, compared with four million a year earlier. Higher memory chip prices are another challenge for the company. The figures show that success in entertainment depends on more than selling new devices. Popular content can also play an important role.

For audiences, familiar characters can make choosing entertainment easier. Someone who enjoyed an earlier Spider-Man film may already know what kind of experience to expect. Companies can build on that interest through films, games and other products. However, relying heavily on famous names also raises questions about variety. Viewers may enjoy returning to a favorite story while still wanting fresh ideas and different voices. Original projects can offer something unexpected, although their audiences may be harder to predict. Consumers face choices too. A cinema ticket, a new game and a streaming subscription all compete for the same entertainment budget. Price, quality and the chance to share an experience with friends can influence the decision. For Sony and its competitors, keeping audiences interested matters alongside improving the technology.

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Chat

Talk about these words from the article.

profit / earnings / quarter / forecast / consoles / memory chips / figures / content / audiences / familiar / characters / variety / original / subscription / competitors

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Discussion

1. What makes you decide to pay for a film or game?

2. How do familiar characters influence your entertainment choices?

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of making more films in an existing series?

4. When do you prefer going to the cinema over watching at home?

5. How do you divide your entertainment budget?

6. What could make you buy a new game console?

7. How can entertainment companies encourage audiences to try original stories?

8. Which matters more to your enjoyment: better technology or a better story? Why?