Sony's brand reputation hits 6-year low; Comcast's 'Talking Guide' goes live

Cable industry news from across the Web:

> President Obama has described the North Korean attack on Sony Picture's IT systems as "cyber vandalism" and not an act of war. Story

> Sony's response to the computer attack on its studio division has pushed its overall brand reputation to its lowest level in six years, according to the research firm YouGov. Story

> Portland, Ore.-based multiscreen technology company Elemental Technologies has secured a $14.5 million series D funding round led by Australian telecommunications company Telstra. Press release

> Viacom extended the contract of Wade Davis, executive VP and CFO of the programming conglomerate, to 2018. Story

> Comcast's "Talking Guide," an X1 platform feature designed for the visually impaired, has gone live. Corporate tweet

And finally … In an example of new media using old media to promote itself, Netflix and Amazon took out full-page ads in the New York Times over the weekend to promote their respective original series, Marco Polo and Mozart in the Jungle. Story