Crunchyroll could get a new owner. According to both The Information and Variety, AT&T is considering selling the streaming service to help pay off its debts. The asking price hasn’t been announced, but Variety is noting it could be around $1 billion and The Information said around $1.5 billion.
No potential buyers have been announced. Also, no official company representatives have discussed the deal. However, supposedly Sony is among prospective owners. (Sony owns Funimation.)
This comes alongside another potential WarnerMedia sale. Starting back in July 2020, there was the suggestion that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment could be up for sale, with The Information covering possible Microsoft interest in it. Daniel “ZhugeEx” Ahmad also reminded people that division is still also being considered.
All of this would go toward paying off the AT&T Warner Media debt. It was noted to be at $153.4 billion in June 2020.
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 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 removed some otome anime series and confirmed when it will air the new My Hero Academia OVAs.
