Sony- Digital Media Convergence Essay Example

Sony- Digital Media Convergence Essay Question of Concern Choose a specific company and evaluate its organization’s performance in the market with reference to digital media convergence. Explain the organization’s relationship with the different media segments and discuss how this affects the company’s operations and sales. Sony: Company Background What better company to select that one that possesses all forms of media, and even technology that converge all media types into a single device (multi-media devices). Sony is the world’s fifth largest media provider, standing at USD 78. 88 billion in 2008. An amazing feat considering that the company had only originated as a radio manufacturer in WWII Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, and is now pioneering some of the most advanced technology in the world. Sony currently has a wide selection of a product line-up (including their unique innovations), such as: * HDTVs * Play Stations (1, 2 ,3 and portable) * Universal Media Disks * Blu- Ray disks * LCD TVs * HandyCams * PCs and Laptop (Vaio) Radios * Personal MP3 Players * Cellular Phones (Sony Ericsson) With such a diversification of products and different media forms, collision with one another is inevitable. I especially selected Sony, so that I may also enlighten you on some aspects of the gaming industry, used as an advertising tool. Sony: Case Study Case 1 Pre-launch of the PS3 (Play Station 3) in 2005, Sony had hired special graffiti artists (and the walls of store owners) to spray-paint b uildings of hired establishments, eliciting people playing the PS3. We will write a custom essay sample on Sony- Digital Media Convergence specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sony- Digital Media Convergence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sony- Digital Media Convergence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer They also done the same by hiring artists to draw similar art and upload onto their blogs and peer networking sites (MySpace, Friendster, etcetera), hoping that the power of art and peers would inspire the want for the users to purchase their upcoming product. The success of this unique form of guerilla tactics were questionable, since this sparked much controversy. Many viewers realized that this was a marketing tactic and expressed their distaste to the graffiti that they even placed their own additions (Such as â€Å"Advertising directed at your counter culture† or â€Å"Fony†). And on the web format, although slightly more subtle, many caught on and also wrote their repulse in the comment boxes and forums. Case 2 Approaching Christmas in 2006, Sony attempted an online viral marketing campaign; it was named, â€Å"All I want for Xmas is a PSP†, a blog written by a teenager named â€Å"Charlie†, confessing his ultimate desire to acquire the upcoming Play Station Portable (PSP). â€Å"He† even provided links to iron-on t-shirts, Christmas Cards and â€Å"himself† rapping, all associated to the PSP. It wasn’t long until this ruse was discovered by the public as well, leading a massive exposure of the project through YouTube and blogs. Sony admitted the sites origin and then converted the sight, providing details and facts on the PSP. Case 3 After a user purchases the Play Station 3, there is a feature wherein you can create your own avatar and immerse yourself into a digital community as the character. Able to select your own facial features, hair, clothing and trinkets; coincidentally many of the trinkets you may select are existing and up-coming Sony products. Wouldn’t be uncommon to see a character walking around with the Sony HandyCam or a house forum containing Sony’s HDTV. A very successful advertising tool, considering that many PS3 users are also their current market for many of their other products. This helped spread awareness amongst its users, and it even provided some details of the products in-game to educate them on their functions and advantages. Not to mention, this was a cheap and easy way to advertise. Case 4 In a lot of Sony PlayStation games, especially ones that are focused on sports. One would encounter advertisements of other products (and including Sony’s own), during the half-times and breaks. It helps create the feel of an actual game, but this also serves as product placements (and not to mention cheap advertising, with additional income). But this was not only limited to sports games, once in a while if you look hard enough you’d see the game’s protagonist (whom children often admire and look up to), using a Sony device, such as the Sony Mp3 player. Although not efficient at capturing new markets, it helps develop awareness in its current market. But one of the most â€Å"deadly† aspect of this marketing scheme, is that it targets children and teenagers who are the most susceptible to influence, potentially developing long-term loyalty. Case 5 With many of the Sony Products, apart from the typical cross media advertising; where you see the HandyCam advertised on TV, or the Blu-Ray disk on the internet, or the mp3 player on the radio, or the HDTVs in the newspapers. Sony tries to advertise in more subtle ways that user can relate more towards (as you may notice in the previous cases). Such as: * Getting newspaper/ magazine/ blog authors to write â€Å"reviews† on their products * Getting â€Å"users† to post videos on the internet of them using the products (or even singing about the product in some cases) * Posting their TV/radio advertisements onto the internet * Providing trials to their users in exchange of sharing their experience on their blogs or peer networking sites Case 6 The Sony Bravia television, a TV with the niche of providing a large variation of vibrant colors, one problem, how do you advertise a television with colors superior to that most common household TVs and computers. Instead they filmed 600 people shooting 7,000 liters of paint onto a huge canvas in 30- seconds. Then provided a copy for each person to bring home, to show friends/ upload or play in their stores; and of course also advertised themselves this video on the internet and TV. Analysis of the Cases amp; Conclusion Because of their wide selection of products, Sony cannot show any real preference in advertising with any digital media, mainly because they also carry a wide variety in target markets. This asks for a lot from the sales and promotional teams. As we can see Sony truly utilizes all forms of media, they advertise on our television commercials, radio commercials, internet banners, in between our newspaper pages, just like many other companies. But Sony looked for and utilized less conventional methods, methods that truly relate and get â€Å"personal† with the consumer. Be it through, viral marketing, guerilla tactics, street- advertisements, in-game advertising, fake blogs and articles. Many times company’s think that creativity ends after the shooting ends, but they fail to realize that creativity can also lie in how you communicate that advertisement. With such a large variation of digital products, it would be extremely expensive to advertise for each one separately (sometimes even cluttering one another for key advertising spots), and although each product may be recognized as their own SBU (strategic business unit). Sony truly succeeds at finding that synergistic effect and discovers ways that allows for their products to advertise together and on another, not to mention- in a creative manner. References Sony Main Website, http://www. sony. net/SonyInfo/technology/ â€Å"Sony Unveils Movies for Memory Sticks†, Alexander DeFelice, Tech News World, http://www. technewsworld. com/rsstory/51805. html Sony, Wikipedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sony â€Å"Sony Advertising Campaigns†, Sony Website, http://www. sony. co. id/section/advertisingcampaign â€Å"On Sony Advertisement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , Stan M, Sony Insider, ttp://www. sony. co. id/section/advertisingcampaign â€Å"Advertising for Sony†, Article Base http://www. articlesbase. com/advertising-articles/advertising-for-sony-1908654. html â€Å"Sony: Advertising Like No Other†, Gadgets Weblog http://www. gadgets-weblog. com/50226711/sony_advertising_like_no_other. php â€Å"Sony Admits Advertising Arrogance†, P lay. tm http://play. tm/news/29763/sony-admits-advertising-arrogance/? utm_source=feedburneramp;utm_medium=feedamp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+playtm+%28play. tm%29 â€Å"Sony’s little Charlie†, EDGE, http://www. next-gen. biz/index. php? ption=com_contentamp;task=viewamp;id=4397amp;Itemid=2/ Sony USA Website, http://www. sony. com/index. php â€Å"Sony Affiliated Companies†, Sony Website, http://www. sony. net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/Subsidiaries/index. html â€Å"Sony: Product amp; Technology Milestones†, Sony Website, http://www. sony. net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory. html â€Å"Sony Draws Ire With PSP Graffiti†, Ryan Singel, Wired, http://www. wired. com/culture/lifestyle/news/2005/12/69741 â€Å"Graffiti ads spark debate in US†, BBC News, http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/4567236. stm