WarnerMedia Looking To Sell Anime Service Crunchyroll For Reported

WarnerMedia is apparently putting Japanese anime hub Crunchyroll on the auction block -- with Sony emerging as an interested suitor.  The Hollywood Reporter reports that despite achieving relative success as a niche service -- to the tune of 3 million Crunchyroll subscribers -- WarnerMedia’s parent company AT&T is looking to further reduce its $200 billion debt load. Accordingly, newly-installed WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar is looking to sell any assets -- including 14-year-old Crunchyroll -- that aren’t central to its entertainment business, which includes flagship streaming service HBO Max. (Crunchyroll touts a presence on HBO Max with curated programming -- in addition to its standalone service, with pricing starting at $8 per month).  If Sony were to go forward with the purchase, Crunchyroll would presumably amplify its existing anime service, Funimation, which dubs and distributes Japanese anime. That said, Sony reportedly offered less than WarnerMedia’s $1.5 billion asking price for Crunchyroll, per The Information, which first reported the talks.

Crunchyroll, AT&T's anime streaming service, sells for $1.2 billion to Sony's Funimation

WarnerMedia Shopping Crunchyroll Sale – The Hollywood Reporter

Crunchyroll, JH Wiki Collection Wiki

AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation Global Group

AT&T Seeks to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony for $1.5 Billion (Report)

Crunchyroll adds offline viewing, new service tiers for 'Mega Fans

Funimation Completes Acquisition of Crunchyroll AFA: Animation For Adults : Animation News, Reviews, Articles, Podcasts and More

AT&T May Be Looking to Sell Anime Service Crunchyroll to Sony

Funimation seals $1.175BN Crunchyroll acquisition, Major Businesses, Business, News

Sony bets big on Crunchyroll as global anime audience grows - Los Angeles Times

Crunchyroll Unveils First Ever Slate Of Original Shows

Funimation Archives - MARKETECH APAC

AT&T Selling Crunchyroll To Sony's Funimation For $1.175 Billion – Deadline

AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation for $1.18 Billion - Bloomberg

AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation Global Group