It has been reported that Sony is entering final negotiations to purchase the CrunchyRoll Anime streaming service. The buyout could potentially run them over 100 Billion Yen (That’s around $957 Million after conversions). With over 70 million Free Members and 3 million Subscribers, there is certainly growth and profit to be made in the long run. This is especially true when Anime continues to grow in popularity in the West year over year.
It’s worth noting that Sony also has a 95% stake in Funimation, giving them quite the foothold in the anime department. The acquisition comes at an interesting time when shareholders and consumers alike are monitoring Sony’s moves to see whether they try to take hold of any Studios in light of Microsoft’s ongoing acquisitions. This is a good reminder that Sony has always been more than a Playstation centric business. Technology and Media is still at the forefront of their ventures.
