MUMBAI: Hammered by the floods in Thailand, strong yen and weak global demand, Japanese consumer electronics and media conglomerate Sony announced net losses of $2.04 billion for the third quarter.

Sony recorded net income of 72.3 billion yen for the same quarter in 2010.

Sony Pictures increased sales by 7.7 per cent to $2.06 billion, but profits took a beating and fell by 85 per cent to $9 million.

At the same time, India proved to be a shining light. Overall Sony continues to see double digit growth from India and Brazil.

Sales in the music segment decreased by 12 per cent and operating income decreased ?4.2 billion year-on-year to ?15.3 billion.

Sales decreased primarily due to fewer new significant releases in the current quarter compared with the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, and the appreciation of the yen.

Operating income decreased due to the lower sales, partially offset by lower marketing expenses. Overall, the company has forecast a full-year operating loss, due to bad losses in its TV operations despite restructuring efforts.

Sony VP, corporate executive officer, CFO, Masaru Kato noted that sales decreased significantly year-on-year due to the impact of floods in Thailand, deterioration in the market environment in developed countries, and even greater relative impact of exchange rates. The floods in Thailand were one of the major factors behind the significant decrease in sales and deterioration in operating results for the quarter.

"Several of our manufacturing facilities incurred direct damage, resulting in a halt in production, and the delayed launch of certain products. Moreover, the supply chain across the entire industry was impacted, and the demand decreased as companies we do business with were affected. The decrease in sales and significant deterioration in equity in net income of affiliated companies caused us to record an operating loss for the quarter," he said.

Kato noted that China has reached the plateau and the company, thus, cannot expect the figures for their growth.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels Asia has launched BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies on Thailand cable and satellite television operator, TrueVisions.

The four channels join BBC World News on TrueVisions.

The four channels are part of BBC Worldwide?s portfolio of channels that showcase a mix of British TV across factual, entertainment, children?s and lifestyle programming.

BBC Worldwide Channels Asia senior VP, GM Mark Whitehead said, ?We are extremely pleased to have our entire suite of channels available in Thailand. This deal reflects our ongoing commitment to the region - delivering to our audiences a wide range of high-quality, award-winning programming - from factual, lifestyle, pre-school entertainment to comedy and drama. Viewers in Thailand recognise and appreciate quality content; we are confident that our channels will appeal to the viewers there and are very pleased to be working with TrueVisions to deliver this proposition?.

TrueVisions MD Thiti Nuntapatsiri said, ?To affirm our commitment to delivering the best content, we have added four premium channels from the BBC. In addition to the existing BBC World News channel, there are now five BBC channels on TrueVisions. The new channels - BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies, are ready to entertain you this year, and they will be great choices for your viewing pleasure.?

BBC Knowledge showcases factual entertainment from the world?s foremost producers of non-fiction and documentary programming.

In February, premiering just two weeks after the UK telecast, viewers will be privy to ?Top Gear? (series 18). The latest series sees the presenters, Jeremy Clarkson. Richard Hammond and James May, visit Sweden to partake in a series of ice racing challenges.

The ?three wise men? then travel to China to explore the local Chinese motoring industry through even quirkier and crazier stunts. The presenters also drive across Italy in yet to be released supercars including the new 2013 Porsche 911.

?Human Planet? premieres on 4 February. A record of man?s survival in the most extreme environments, each episode focuses on one environment and how the peoples and tribes who live there adapt to their surroundings- oceans, deserts, arctic, jungles, mountains, grasslands, rivers and cities. It weaves together 80 stories, many never told before on television, set to a soundtrack by composer Nitin Sawhney.

BBC Lifestyle offers inspiration for home, family and life. The channel offers programmes on home and design, food, fashion and style, to entertain, engage and inspire viewers. This month sees the premiere of ?Extreme Makeover Home Edition? (series seven). In this series, well-deserving families are packed off to holidays while the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team, led by model-presenter, Ty Pennington fights against time to rebuild a dream home for these families. This series premieres on 26 February 2012.

BBC Lifestyle is also home to Gordon Ramsay?s latest series. This month viewers can catch ?The F Word? - where each episode revolves around Ramsay preparing a three-course meal for 50 guests at The F Word restaurant. Diners in the restaurant include celebrities who participate in conversations, challenges, and cook-offs with Ramsay. Other segments include food-related topics, such as alternative foods and healthy eating.

BBC Entertainment showcases comedy, drama and light entertainment from the BBC and other UK production houses. Silent Witness (series 14) kicks off on 21 February. It follows the team of Professor Leo Dalton, Dr Harry Cunningham and Dr Nikki Alexander as they solve emotional and harrowing crimes with the clinical, objective help of forensic science.

?The Graham Norton Show? (series 10) will also air. On BBC Entertainment just two weeks after the UK telecast chat show host and comedian, Graham Norton entertains with his trademark comedy monologues, interesting celebrity chats, eccentric stories and characters. Guests from previous series include Kate Winslet, James McAvoy, Johnny Depp, Snow Patrol and Ricky Gervais.