Sony's Hirai: PlayStation Network not yet profitable

Sony has yet to make the free-to-use PlayStation Network profitable, Sony's Kazuo Hirai told Reuters Japan. However, he expects the PSN to start making money in the following fiscal year. According to the report, PSN sales nearly doubled in the closing fiscal year, reaching 36 billion yen. Looking forward three years, Hirai expects revenue to increase nearly tenfold, to 300 billion yen.

In addition to increased game and video sales, it's likely PlayStation Plus -- Sony's premium content subscription service -- will contribute greatly to the overall profitability of the network. (Undoubtedly, Sony will want to closely replicate the success of Microsoft's competing Xbox Live service.) Sony has been monetizing the service in other ways as well, such as the extensive advertising partnerships featured in its original video programming.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/so...et-profitable/