History

History Details

The History of Sony in Canada

Originally headquartered in Winnipeg, Sony of Canada began as a way of introducing Canadians to ground-breaking consumer electronics from Sony, like the Walkman® portable music player, Trinitron® television and Handycam® camcorder.

 

Sony of Canada ULC evolved from General Distributors (Gendis) founded in 1954. In collaboration with the founders of Sony Corporation, Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka, Manitoba businessman Albert Cohen and his four brothers negotiated early distribution of Sony's first transistor radio in 1955. As early pioneers of electronics distribution, the Cohens also negotiated for Eaton's company to be the first company to retail Sony consumer products outside of Japan.

 

Sony of Canada ULC also pioneered and powered the growth of Broadcast media. Using the most powerful technology of its time, Sony's Betacam technology transformed the world of electronic news gathering. Sony's digital routing system was the heart of the CBC Toronto Broadcasting Centre, and Sony's Digital Betacam SX was used as the primary tool to record and broadcast the 1996 Olympics across Canada.

                  Albert Cohen and Akio Morita.

"Curiosity is the key to creativity"

Sony's co-founder, Akio Morita, believed that curiosity is the key to creativity. This belief drove innovation and helped Sony create its legacy as an entertainment powerhouse.

 

Today, Sony is leveraging its innovative spirit in hardware technology to software and content; converging its electronics, motion picture, computer entertainment, music and online businesses together to make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.

 

Under the direction of Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Corporation, Sony companies are working together to deliver innovative entertainment solutions.

Sony of Canada ULC is no exception. With sister organizations such as Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Sony Mobile and Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Canada offers Canadians the full power of revolutionary gaming and entertainment content.

 

Building on the strength of the Sony brand and its legacy of innovation, Sony Canada has become a cornerstone of the Canadian entertainment landscape. Sony's market-leading connected devices include the Sony Internet Player with Google TV™, Blu-ray Disc™ players, BRAVIA® televisions, Cyber-shot® digital cameras, Handycam® camcorders, Sony Tablets®, VAIO® computers, Sony Reader®, broadcast cameras, IPELA security cameras and video conferencing, and many other innovative products. [BS1] Sony Entertainment Network offers the ultimate destination to watch, listen, play, and connect across Sony connected devices through one convenient account. As Sony continues to innovate, Sony Canada will continue shaping the future of electronics and entertainment for Canadians.