Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Sony's new CEO will have a lot on his plate, including streaming deals and theme parks
Sony Pictures in Culver City
(
Blake Handley via the Creative Commons on Flickr
)
Topline:
Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra announced that he will be stepping down from his post at the end of the year, to be replaced by president and COO Ravi Ahuja in an orderly succession.
Why it matters: When Vinciquerra started at Sony, the company was still fresh off its 2014-15 hack and didn’t have a clear streaming strategy. But in his seven years at the helm, Vinciquerra has kept the business on track, and avoided the catch-all streaming pothole that has challenged rival legacy studios. Sony now operates as a lucrative “arms dealer” to other streaming services, licensing its titles.
Vinciquerra’s fruitful tenure: Vinciquerra didn’t avoid streaming altogether; Sony films go to Netflix after their theatrical run, a deal which has been successful for both companies. He acquired Crunchyroll, an anime streamer, for $1.1 billion. In the time since the purchase, the platform has become profitable and its subscriber base has tripled. Vinciquerra also got Sony out of cable TV before its collapse, and finally turned Sony’s gaming IP, including The Last of Us to Uncharted, into worthwhile adaptations.
Ahuja’s big directives: Going forward, incoming CEO Ravi Ahuja will be charged with growing Sony’s theme park licensing business, negotiating a new deal with Netflix (or someone else for Sony’s movies on streaming) and navigating Sony’s core TV business as the television landscape continues to undergo large-scale change.
Support for LAist comes from
For more... read the full story on The Ankler.
This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist