Sony Pictures Closes $1.175 Billion Deal to Buy Crunchyroll Anime Service

 

August 19, 2021

Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. announced it has completed the $1.175 billion acquisition of the anime streaming service Crunchyroll.

The deal, inked on August 10, provides the opportunity for Crunchyroll and Funimation – a dubbing and distribution media company owned by Sony -- to broaden distribution for their content partners and expand fan-centric offerings for consumers, Sony said in a statement.

The agreement with AT&T was first announced by the Culver City-based Sony Pictures in December 2020

"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," he added.

Crunchyroll is a premier anime direct-to-consumer service with 5 million SVOD subscribers and growing, Sony said. It serves 120 million registered users across more than 200 countries and territories offering AVOD, mobile games, manga, events merchandise and distribution.

"Crunchyroll adds tremendous value to Sony's existing anime businesses, including Funimation and our terrific partners at Aniplex and Sony Music Entertainment Japan," said Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "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."

 

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