SUMMARY
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Sony is in final talks with acquiring anime streaming service Crunchyroll from its parent company WarnerMedia, according to a report from Nikkei Asia.
The Japanese giant may reportedly pay up to $957 million for the acquisition of the site, the streaming rights to over 1,000 anime titles, and its 70 million subscribers worldwide.
The move could put Sony in a dominant position in the streaming battle against the likes of Netflix and Hulu, with it owning a 95% stake of Funimation, a popular anime dubbing and distribution firm.
Sony also owns Aniplex and international licensing companies such as Wakanim and Madman Anime Group.
Crunchyroll, however, has licensing partnerships with other media companies, such as VIZ Media and Webtoon, and it’s not entirely clear yet how these relationships will be affected by the deal.
“For now, fans have no idea what lies in store for their anime, simply lying in wait until these mega-conglomerates make the all-important decisions,” comic book site CBR noted.
“What worries people is whether the choices made will benefit the consumer or the corporation.”
Crunchyroll was founded in 2006 and has over the years become the go-to streaming service for fans of Japanese cartoons and anime.
Sony currently has exclusive rights to negotiate in acquiring the site. – Rappler.com
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