Sony Pictures acquires Crunchyroll from AT&T to create a multi-platform anime experience

By Emmanuel Legrand

Sony Pictures Entertainment has completed the $1.175 billion acquisition of anime channel Crunchyroll from AT&T through Funimation Global Group, the joint venture between SPE and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)'s subsidiary Aniplex. 

  AT&T, which has been divesting from many of its content and entertainment assets, plans to use the proceeds from this transaction "to help support its debt reduction efforts."

  The deal, which was first announced in December 2020, will bring into Sony's fold a leading anime direct-to-consumer service with 5 million SVoD subscribers.

A growing medium

  "We are very excited to welcome Crunchyroll to the Sony Group," said Kenichiro Yoshida, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation. "Anime is a rapidly growing medium that enthralls and inspires emotion among audiences around the globe. The alignment of Crunchyroll and Funimation will enable us to get even closer to the creators and fans who are the heart of the anime community.  We look forward to delivering even more outstanding entertainment that fills the world with emotion through anime."  

  Crunchyroll serves 120 million registered users across more than 200 countries and territories offering AVoD, mobile games, manga, events merchandise and distribution. Sony said the deal would provide the opportunity for Crunchyroll and Funimation "to broaden distribution for their content partners and expand fan-centric offerings for consumers."

  For SPE Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra, the acquisition of Crunchyroll will add "tremendous value to Sony's existing anime businesses, including Funimation and our terrific partners at Aniplex and Sony Music Entertainment Japan." 

A unified anime experience

  He added: "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." 

  Crunchyroll was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, Lausanne, Chisinau, and Berlin (AV Visionen). VRV (US) and Eye See Movies (Germany) are also Crunchyroll brands.