Viz to Launch Console Exclusive 24-hour Anime Channel
Viz has announced its establishment of “Neon Alley,” a 24-hour anime broadcast channel to be available in North America exclusively through an unspecified major video game console(s). The channel will broadcast uncut, English dubbed Viz Media catalog anime, in HD when possible, and original anime-centric news programming with “limited commercial advertising” for a $6.99 monthly subscription fee.
Source: Anime News Network
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“… English dubbed”… and you lost me.
How is it not going to be XBL? Why even bother withholding that? Think MS even listed this at their E3 conference.
While I’m a PS3-only owner, not really seeing or liking the rationale of both charging for the service – at a buck less than Netflix at that – and having commercials on it besides. Again, nevermind that XBL has commercials as well and will be required to access this.
Furthermore, aren’t many VIZ shows already available through other sources like Netflix and Hulu? This just sounds more nonsensical the more I think about – and I haven’t thought about it all that much.
It’s good to see one of the distribution companies finally hitting up the console space. I would have expected Funimation or Sentai, but good for them for giving it a stab.
In all fairness to the commercials, cable networks, satellite radio, and the like run way more commercials despite paying for them. Granted Netflix doesn’t have commercials (surprisingly), but their user base is many times more than Viz’s channel will ever be, so they can afford it. Considering the small number of people likely to sign up for this service, and they can be forgiven for looking for other venues for revenue.
Netflix and Hulu both cost extra in addition to the Xbox Live subscription. Granted you can access these on mutltiple devices, so hopefully that’s in the future.
More importantly, how relevant is this service going to be? With respect to Viz, how many titles do they really have licenses for anymore? They have a lot of long-running series like Bleach, Naruto, Ranma, and Inuyasha, plus titles like Nana and Honey and Clover, but the catalog is comparitively thin. Will we get Project ARMs back? Will the Berserk movies be on there?