Crunchyroll launches their 24/7 FAST Channel in the US on select platforms
Sony-owned anime streaming platform Crunchyroll is venturing on a new journey by launching a free, ad-supported streaming channel (FAST), promising a lineup of English-dubbed anime shows.
The Crunchyroll channel premiered across the US on October 11, becoming accessible on platforms such as LG Channels, The Roku Channel, Vizio WatchFree+, and Amazon’s Freevee on October 17.
The channel’s content will feature popular anime series. As mentioned, viewers can anticipate shows like “Horimiya,” “Ranking of Kings,” “Moriarty the Patrio,” “Psycho-Pass,” “Arifureta,” “Sugar Apple Fairy Tail,” “To Your Eternity,” and not forgetting “Code Geass.”
Regarding the channel’s purpose and ambition, Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini commented, “The Crunchyroll channel is a gateway to the world of anime where we will guide viewers to discover new worlds, new stories, and new characters.” This initiative reflects the growing global appeal of anime and Crunchyroll’s commitment to broaden its accessibility.
This new venture is a joint effort between Crunchyroll and the Game Show Network (GSN), both being part of the Sony Pictures Television umbrella. Expressing his enthusiasm about this collaboration, GSN’s EVP of distribution, Tim Carry, shared, “GSN is thrilled by the strong response from our platform partners for this channel, underscoring Crunchyroll’s reputable brand and extensive library.”
However, this free channel is more than just a nod to anime enthusiasts. It represents Crunchyroll’s strategic move to strengthen its position in the fiercely competitive streaming landscape.
With major players like Netflix expanding their anime content, Crunchyroll’s free channel aims to draw in viewers, hoping to transition them to premium memberships later.
This approach of offering competitive pricing isn’t familiar to Crunchyroll. A year prior, they reduced their premium subscription fees in select regions, likely to attract more anime fans. The strategy has paid off. In 2021, when Sony acquired Crunchyroll, the service had five million subscribers. This number had grown to 10.7 million by March the following year, as Sony’s 2022 fiscal report highlighted.
Ragul Thangavel
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