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Crunchyroll's Parent Company Ellation Confirms VRV Subscription Service Bundle
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Crunchyroll's parent company Ellation confirmed on Tuesday that it is launching VRV, a subscription-based content bundle of streaming services, including Ellation's own anime-focused Crunchyroll, as well as Cartoon Hangover, Rooster Teeth, Seeso, Nerdist Alpha, and Geek & Sundry Alpha. Additional premium channels will also be available on launch.
Entertainment news magazine Variety previously reported on the service bundle earlier this month.
VRV will have both a free ad-supported subscription, and a premium paid subscription with ad-free content. Users will also have the option subscribe to individual channels within the VRV, or the entire offering of channels at a discounted price. Crunchyroll emphasized that its standalone service will remain, even as it becomes available as a channel on VRV. Some content and channels, such as Cartoon Hangover, will be available exclusively through VRV, though exclusive content will be determined by individual content providers.
Variety previously reported that Crunchyroll has at least 800,000 paying subscribers.
The service bundle will be available first on iOS and Android devices, Microsoft's Xbox One consoles, and as-yet unrevealed living room internet TV devices, as well as through web browsers.
While Ellation operates under Otter Media, a joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group formed in 2014, it has not yet announced any offerings from AT&T services. The Chernin Group, a company run by former News Corporation executive Peter Chernin, acquired a majority stake in Crunchyroll in December 2013. Crunchyroll's "About" page currently lists Otter Media as one of its investors. Otter Media invested another US$22 million in Crunchyroll's parent company Ellation in November.
Ellation will announce subscription pricing and a launch date for the service at a later date.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter (Natalie Jarvey), Deadline (David Lieberman)
