Crunchyroll was able to get a new owner. According to both The Information and Variety, AT&T is considering selling the streaming service to pay off its debts. The asking price has not been announced, but Variety notes it could be around $ 1 billion and The Information said about $ 1.5 billion.
No potential buyers have been announced. Also, no official company representatives have discussed the deal. However, it is assumed that Sony is among potential owners. (Sony has Funimation.)
This comes next to another potential WarnerMedia sale. Beginning back in July 2020, there was the suggestion that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment could be for sale, with The Information addressing Microsoft’s potential interest in it. Daniel “ZhugeEx” Ahmad remind people also that distribution is also still considered.
All this would go to pay off the AT&T Warner Media debt. It was estimated in June 2020 to be $ 153.4 billion.
Among the WarnerMedia assets are Crunchyroll, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, HBO (and HBO Max), Turner Networks like TBS and TNT, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Entertainment, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, CNN Worldwide, and Turner Sports.
Crunchyroll Premium normally costs $ 7.99 per month, though there is a 14-day free trial. You can also watch some shows and episodes for free with ads through the service, and the service has a storefront. Its Crunchyroll Expo 2020 virtual convention will be held September 4-6, 2020. The service recently unveiled some otome anime series and confirmed when the new one will air My Hero Academia OVAs.
