Last year, we heard that Sony was interested in acquiring the anime streaming service Crunchyroll. Now, it looks like the tech giant has finally secured a deal, and it’s going to cost $1.175bn.
Announced via a Sony Pictures press release, the deal means that Sony now owns the anime service, which has more than 120 million users. In a way, Sony is now a main player within the anime market, especially since it also has stakes in Funimation. According to Sony’s Tony Vinciquerra, the plan is to use both platforms to provide fans with the ultimate anime experience:
“With the addition of Crunchyroll, we have an unprecedented opportunity to serve anime fans like never before and deliver the anime experience across any platform they choose, from theatrical, events, home entertainment, games, streaming, linear TV – everywhere and every way fans want to experience their anime. Our goal is to create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible.”
So, how will Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll affect anime fans? Well, the company’s subscription model could change, meaning prices could fluctuate. Vinciquerra also seems to be suggesting that Sony’s future anime plans also involve games. While Sony hasn’t announced any changes to the PS Plus model, perhaps Crunchyroll will be part of the service in the future.
Here’s hoping anime fans benefit from Sony’s Crunchyroll buyout. While Sony now influences a huge chunk of anime entertainment, perhaps the likes of Netflix can keep the market competitive.
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Featured Image Credit: Sony/Crunchyroll