Crunchyroll, Ellation’s anime-focused SVOD service, is branching into the world of linear TV through a partnership with Brazilian television network Rede Brasil (RBTV).
Starting April 21, Crunchyroll and RBTV will offer a programmed anime hour featuring two subtitled shows, Black Clover and Re:Zero. The block will run on Saturdays at 8 p.m., and rerun on Sundays at 11 a.m.
That hour on RBTV, they said, will also include eight minutes of local programming from Crunchyroll’s Brazilian community managers, Maria Luiza Petranski Arantes and Beatriz Braz Accioly, who will “explore the latest and greatest in anime and fandom.” (Here’s a video preview from them.)
The TV-focused deal will help to broaden Crunchyroll's reach and attempt to establish more connections with anime fans. It’s another example of how SVOD services are expanding their game plan in order to stand apart in a crowded and fragmented market.
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Among other recent moves that extend beyond its core OTT focus, Crunchyroll teamed with Sumitomo Corp. and GREE to launch its first game, Memoria Freese, for iOS and Android devices.
Crunchyroll, which is also distributed through VRV (Ellation’s SVOD aggregation service), said it has more than 40 million registered users and more than 1 million subscribers.
