Media & Entertainment

A person tries on Sony's PlayStation VR headset. The company hopes to strengthen the sense of community among users by integrating the Discord chat service into the PlayStation ecosystem.
Business deals

Sony takes aim at gamers with Discord stake

PlayStation and US chat service to come 'closer together' from early 2022

5 May 2021
The Nintendo Switch is five years old. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Electronics

Nintendo raises Switch output to record 30m on stay-at-home demand

Boom in paid subscriptions helps to drive gaming device's success

2 May 2021
Net profit and operating profit guidance fell short of analysts' expectations, giving some investors the impression that Sony's unprecedented growth and the pandemic-driven gaming fever have run their course.
Media & Entertainment

Sony shares dive 8% as underwhelmed investors lock in gains

Japan blue chip forecasts annual profit drop as pandemic-driven gaming fever cools

30 April 2021
The Washington Post headquarters in the U.S. capital: The company has seen an 80% growth in international subscriptions over the past year. (Photo courtesy of the company) 
Media & Entertainment

Washington Post pivots to Asia with Seoul news hub

Company eyes global audience and picks Kendra Nichols to lead new station

30 April 2021
Sony expects its breadwinner gaming business to fall short of the previous year, which saw unprecedented demand during the initial phases of the coronavirus pandemic.
Electronics

Sony faces profit drop following record-breaking year

Conglomerate expects tougher times after unprecedented gaming demand

28 April 2021
The Demon Slayer film, based on a popular manga and TV anime series, grossed over $21 million at U.S. theaters during its opening weekend, despite COVID-19 restrictions.
Media & Entertainment

'Demon Slayer' slashes US box office in record opening weekend

Anime film becomes top foreign language debut in America, defying pandemic

28 April 2021
Chloe Zhao became the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for best director on Sunday, crashing through one of Hollywood's toughest barriers with her film "Nomadland."
Arts

China-born Chloe Zhao sought common ground in Oscars speech

Considering 'Nomadland' as art made by humans rather than geopolitical actors

27 April 2021
A still from "Night in Paradise," which premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival last September and has been described as the best Korean gangster film ever made. (Netflix)
Arts

How South Korea became the home of 'noir' film

Asian powerhouse churning out some of finest genre movies ever made

27 April 2021
Chloe Zhao won Academy Awards for best director and best picture with "Nomadland."
Arts

'Nomadland': Chloe Zhao first Asian woman to win best director Oscar

Chinese media snub historic achievement over 2013 remarks on her homeland

26 April 2021
Alibaba Group Holding, founded by Jack Ma, has accumulated a range of media assets including Hong Kong-based newspaper the South China Morning Post. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
China tech

Jack Ma and Alibaba's media power touches nerve in Beijing

Attempts to sway public opinion provoke regulatory backlash

21 April 2021
Tencent Holdings and 33 other internet companies were told Tuesday to rectify their behavior in light of the $2.8 billion fine given to  Alibaba.
Bonds

Tencent opens $4bn bond sale amid China debt market turmoil

Issue comes as internet platforms pressured over anti-competitive practices

15 April 2021
Although India's streaming market is promising, the industry faces challenges, as some viewers object to the content that services offer. (Screen captures from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video)
Media & Entertainment

Netflix and Amazon under fire in India over controversial content

New government rules seen as 'speed breaker' to streaming growth in key market

11 April 2021
Cricket is more than just sport in India, and the Indian Premier League is by far the most popular professional league in the country.
Sports

India's Premier League cricket opens cash-rich with Chinese money

Vivo returns as T20 title sponsor despite recent Sino-India violence

9 April 2021
Sony Pictures Entertainment has teamed up with Thailand's Amazon Falls. 
Media & Entertainment

Sony Pictures sets up amusement park in Thailand

Aquaverse opens in October with rides based on 'Ghostbusters' and 'Jumanji'

7 April 2021
Netflix has partnered with WIT Studio, original producers of "Attack on Titan," and Tokyo's Sasayuri Video Training Institute to launch a scholarship-only anime school in Japan.
Arts

Netflix-sponsored anime school goes back to basics

New training academy for budding anime artists is surprisingly old school in its goals

6 April 2021
The Woo Min-ho-directed “The Man Standing Next” is set around the 1979 assassination of South Korean President Park Chung-hee.
Arts

Politics take center stage in popular South Korean films

Cinema comes of age as country becomes more liberal

4 April 2021
Democratic Party founder Martin Lee, left, and former lawmaker Albert Ho arrive at the courthouse ahead of the judge's verdict on April 1 in Hong Kong. 
Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong court finds leading activists guilty of illegal assembly

Jimmy Lai and six former opposition legislators face up to 5 years in prison

1 April 2021
Taking a cold shower at "Ephemeral Solidified Light" after the sauna, while enjoying being part of the artwork. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Arts

Cool art in a hot sauna

Japan's teamLab creates unique exhibition space

1 April 2021
The BBC sign outside the entrance to the headquarters of the publicly funded media organization in London. A BBC correspondent in China, John Sudworth, has relocated to Taiwan, saying on March 31 he faced threats and intimidation from authorities in Beijing. 
Media & Entertainment

BBC correspondent leaves China amid safety concerns

John Sudworth reported on internment camps in Xinjiang

1 April 2021
Bilibili priced its Hong Kong offering at a 2.7% discount to the stock's previous close on the Nasdaq, but its U.S. shares have slid a further 7% since then. 
Markets

Bilibili joins weak debuts of Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong

Mainland companies caught in US tensions, rising rates and regulatory crackdown

29 March 2021
The K-drama "Crash Landing on You" features a South Korean heiress who falls in love with a soldier from the North. (Photo courtesy of Studio Dragon)
Media & Entertainment

'Crash Landing on You' studio glides Netflix boom to new heights

Streaming war provides tailwinds for respected South Korean content creator

28 March 2021
A newsstand in Yangon: The collapse or voluntary closures of local publications marks a sharp reversal from the boom in independent daily national newspapers in the preceding decade.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar junta crushes journalists, but news still gets out

Media organizations defy ban as regime curbs freedoms, cuts internet access

26 March 2021
Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen: The company's core businesses are growing despite regulatory headwinds.
China tech

Tencent vows to embrace open platform amid antitrust crackdown

Back by strong earnings, tech giant grows short video unit in challenge to Douyin and Kuaishou

25 March 2021
Razer's gaming platform has 123 million total users worldwide. (Photo courtesy of Razer)
Technology

Singapore's gaming gear company Razer posts first profit

Hong Kong-listed firm not fazed by failure to nab digital banking license

24 March 2021
MNC Executive Chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo says the merger and Nasdaq listing will likely improve AVN's balance sheet.
Business deals

Indonesia's MNC seeks US listing for video streaming unit

Trump partner also hopes to raise $130m through SPAC merger

24 March 2021