To all the streaming services youâve never heard of before
By Julia Alexander | Jan 25, 2021, 10:00am EST
The competition for streaming services is playing out in the same way the tech industry has over the past decade: a small handful of big names, backed by a lot of money. But for every Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Hulu, there are a dozen smaller, more obscure streaming services â many of which youâve likely never heard of. In fact, letâs see if you can tell the difference between the names of real streaming platforms and ones weâve made up.
As we do when a year comes to a close, Realscreen is offering a look back at the major stories impacting the unscripted and non-fiction content industry over the course of the past 12 months. This year, of course, offered more than its share of unprecedented challenges. Still, as you’ll see in these recaps, the industry met them with innovation and dedication, and continues to do so as 2021 approaches. For our final look back at 2020, we examine the executive shuffles throughout the non-fiction screen content business as linear companies shift their focus to streaming.
The enduring novel coronavirus pandemic has placed heavy strain on companies across the media landscape this year, causing several to trim their ranks and instead recalibrate their efforts for the streaming era.
Though the deal is still pending, subject to regulatory approvals, here are four things to know about this major acquisition.
1. Crunchyroll will bolster Funimation’s library, adding original content and games
The most obvious advantage to Sony in this deal is that Crunchyroll’s extensive library will boost Sony’s in-house animation company Funimation, which is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s subsidiary, Aniplex. Funimation, which has more than 700 anime series, primarily specializes in dubbing and distributing anime in North America and licenses popular titles like “Attack on Titan,” “Dragon Ball,” the “Fullmetal Alchemist” franchise and “One Piece.”
We are excited to join our peers at Sony and Funimation.
There are many questions we can’t answer yet, but we’re excited by the prospect of this combination. https://t.co/R6ACXYHRHL
“The Crunchyroll team has done an extraordinary job of not only growing the Crunchyroll brand but also building a passionate community of anime fans,” Tony Goncalves, Chief Revenue Officer of WarnerMedia, said in a statement. “Crunchyroll’s success is a direct result of the company’s culture and commitment to their fans. By combining with Funimation, they will continue to nurture a global community and bring more anime to more people. I’m incredibly proud of the Crunchyroll team and what they have been able to accomplish in the digital media space in such a short period of time. They’ve created an end-to-end global ecosystem for this incredible art form.”
Crunchyroll.
Funimation s website also confirmed the acquisition.
Sony reports that the purchase price is US$1.175 billion, to be paid in cash at closing. None of the companies have provided any further details about the acquisition, and the deal is still awaiting regulatory approvals and other conditions.
In the announcement,
Nikkei Asia reported in October that
Sony was in final negotiations for the
Crunchyroll acquisition. At that time, the newspaper reported that
Sony could end up spending more than 100 billion yen ($957 million). The technology website The Information reported in August that AT&T offered
Crunchyroll to
Sony for US$1.5 billion. The Information stated then that