Speaking to reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hirai said “We are still reviewing the effects of the cyber-attack. However, I do not see it as something that will cause a material upheaval on Sony Pictures business operations, basically, in terms of results for the current fiscal year.”
Sony’s networks were attacked by hackers in November as the company prepared to release The Interview. The attack was followed by leaks of embarrassing emails, blog posts, and private messages. It has since been attributed to North Korea by the U.S. government.
The group, Guardians of Peace, claimed responsibility for the attack and have accused Sony of creating political trouble with The Interview. The movie is a comedy about an assassination plot against the leader of North Korea.
After the cyber-attack, the group threatened attacks on theaters airing the movie. This threat caused many major chains to cancel the film. It was instead released to a small number of independent theaters and distributed online by Sony, Google, Microsoft and Apple.
This was the first time that Hirai has spoken publically about the cyber-attack.
“I have to say that I’m very proud of all the employees, and certainly the partners who stood up against the extortionist efforts of criminals, and worked tirelessly, sometimes for days on end to bring you ‘The Interview’,” said Hirai at the show. “I have to say that freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association – those are very important lifelines for Sony and our entertainment business.”
The Interview, which cost $44 million to make, has brought in $31 million in online, satellite and cable sales. It has brought in an additional $5 million in the independent theaters where it is showing. The movie was downloaded 4.3 million times between its release on December 24 and January 4.
Sony Pictures is still rebuilding its computer network after the cyber-attack and even though North Korea has denied any involvement in it, the U.S. government has leveed sanctions against the country over the attack.
