News
Erik Gruenwedel
October 30, 2020
Sony Corp. is reportedly finalizing a $957 million acquisition of AT&T’s Crunchyroll anime subscription streaming VOD service and IP content. AT&T is looking to sell non-core assets since it acquired Time Warner, including Warner Bros., HBO and Turner, accumulating more than $180 billion in debt in the process.
The deal’s status was first reported by Nikkei Asian Review, which cited sources familiar with the situation. AT&T, which gained Crunchyroll in its 2018 acquisition of Otter Media from The Chernin Group, had been asking $1.5 billion for the anime platform.
Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!
Sony, which acquired Funimation and its one million subs in 2017, is looking to solidify control of the anime market. The Crunchyroll deal would bring in-house streaming, 1,000 anime titles, and an existing subscriber base of 70 million free ad-supported viewers and three million paid users globally.
Related Posts
Sony Rebrands Crackle Streaming ServiceSony Pictures Entertainment has rebranded its Crackle streaming service to Sony Crackle. Founded in 2004 as Grouper.com featuring licensed movies and TV shows, Sony acquired the service in 2006 for $65 million and named it Crackle in 2007. As over-the-top…
Crunchyroll Crosses 3 Million Paid SubsAnime streaming service Crunchyroll has crossed 3 million paid subscribers globally and more than 70 million registered users, according to the service. With more than 1,000 titles and 30,000 episodes, Crunchyroll is available in more than 200 countries and territories…
Sony Merging Anime Streaming BusinessesSony Pictures Television and Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), have announced the combination of multiple Sony-owned anime streaming businesses. France’s Wakanim, Australia’s Madman Anime Group and U.S.-based Funimation will form a joint venture to be owned by…
MoviePass Reaches 1.5 Million SubscribersTheatrical ticket subscription service MoviePass Jan. 9 announced it has reached 1.5 million subscribers – less than 30 days after topping 1 million members. The New York-based $9.95 monthly service, which enables users free daily access to one screening, has…
