Forbes: Sony is Screwed...Is this article accurate?

[NJ5]

Viper1 said:

arsenal009 said:
"It last posted a loss in 1995, on a one-time charge. "

What does that mean? Doesn't it mean that they've posted a loss before? Am i missing something?

They bought Columbia Pictures.  In doing so, they took on the debt owed by Columbia Pictures which they wrote off.

 

Actually according to this article the problem was not debt, just that they had to write-down the value of their purchase, as they later realized the studio was in trouble which reduced its value.

This year, the loss will apparently have immediate effect on Sony's cash.