Tokyo HQ 'hands on' with Sony studio

Sony Corp’s Tokyo headquarters is changing its usual arm’s-length relationship with its United States studio following a massive cyber attack and the controversy over the comedy “The Interview,” with the group CEO being consulted on key decisions, company officials said.

Before the devastating cyber attack, Sony Pictures Entertainment was relatively independent of the Tokyo HQ, despite the company’s slogan that it is “One Sony” across an empire of movies, music, gadgets and even insurance.

But group CEO Kazuo Hirai has become more involved after the hacking, which debilitated Sony Pictures’ computer network and led to the online leaks of unreleased movies and embarrassing emails. It is considered the biggest attack of its kind on US soil.

Insiders said Sony Pictures Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton consulted Hirai in his decision this week to push through with the release of the movie about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Lynton had made the call to drop the movie after major theater chains cancelled plans to show it under threats from the hackers. He reversed that decision less than a week later and released the movie after President Barack Obama joined other critics in saying Sony had erred, the sources said.

However, Hirai approved both decisions, they added.

Ahead of the hastily scheduled premiere at some 320 independent theaters, Sony released the film straight to US consumers on Wednesday in an unprecedented online debut after the hacker threats had prevented a wider Christmas release.

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