Sony chief Kazuo Hirai on Monday spoke for the first time publicly about the cyber attack that derailed launch of controversial comedy "The Interview," calling the assault "vicious and malicious".
The company says that, in addition to its film development plans, it's now heading into original content production, with the launch of original comedy and children's series for Amazon Instant Video.
He was speaking at the London launch of a musical adaptation of the 1988 comedy film which starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin.
As you might expect from a bunch of comedians together in one room chomping croissants, there was much jollity at today's breakfast launch of the British Comedy Awards nominations, despite the gloomy prospect of ITV not showing the event live.
Now it's more of a comedy.
"I'm a little of a comedy snob.
Ricky Gervais, who briefly managed Suede before launching a comedy career, delivered a video tribute to the band.
And the decisions are connected, by a growing concern in the industry about the difficulty of launching a new comedy in an age of immediate viewer reaction – thanks to social media.
The Comcast-owned network has certainly dipped its toe in the arena with the January launch of its niche, comedy-centric streaming service, SeeSo.
