FUNimation launches its own TV network

Postby **freerock1** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:09 pm

Press release:
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004241

Postby **rocklobster** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:36 pm

Oh no! NOT funIMATION! I thought they were still on good terms with CN.

Postby **Roy Mustang** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:49 pm

rocklobster wrote:Oh no! NOT funIMATION! I thought they were still on good terms with CN.

They are. They just want to do what ADV is doing with the anime channel.

Wingzero22

Postby **Shao Feng-Li** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:04 pm

Oh cool.

Postby **TrigunX89** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:41 pm

Hmm... I guess that's cool. I still want ADV's anime network...

Postby **SilverFang** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:46 pm

I wish I could get the anime channel :waah!:

.

Postby **Ichigo_89** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:21 pm

I wish I could get either. CURSE YOU, CABLE!! -__-

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:28 pm

I want a 4KIDS station! Yeah!

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:16 pm

*Senses a lot of sarcasm in Impact Alberto's post*

Postby **Ichigo_89** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:15 am

mitsuki lover wrote:*Senses a lot of sarcasm in Impact Alberto's post*

*also senses humor* :lol:

Postby **Kisa** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:41 am

Awesome! More channels away from CN is better ^^ maybe they will do it right likwe the other stations (minus FOX) ^^''

Postby **rocklobster** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:03 pm

Just find some way to get it on Charter since they don't carry ADV or that ImaginAsian Network.

Postby **Tsukuyomi** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:39 pm

Whaaaaaa, there's a channel called ImaginAsian? That sounds coo enough. The more anime the better I always say. Wait.. I never said that before (hehehe)!

Postby **Myoti** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:02 pm

I want a 4KIDS station! Yeah!

*I sense a disturbance in the Force*

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:28 pm

I want a Viz/FuNimation Channel.

Postby **freerock1** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:24 pm

I hope they do well.

I would have liked to see them call themselves something more general than the FUNimation Channel. I think ADV calling theirs Anime Network has helped create more of a buzz for it, using a more general term that those who aren't as educated about the anime industry can understand.

Also having an on-demand presence would probably help FUNi's effort, especially if they were able to get on as many big cable systems as AN On Demand has. But even with the buzz that AN On Demand has created, AN 24/7 still struggles to get picked up on cable systems; it's probably going to be even more of an uphill battle for FUNi's channel.

But here's hoping for the best.

Postby **Jeikobu** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:28 pm

A Funimation channel would be great as long as they don't only show dubs. Funimation is hands down my favorite licenser. Long live Funi!

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:32 pm

Well it depends on which shows they air as well.The Anime Network,as I understand,just started airing subs,so you never know FuNimation might have a
block of subs as well but I would guess that any station that wants to go all anime
would have to have a good amount of dubs just because they're easier to follow
and would make it easier overall to lure in and attract new anime viewers.
Eventually it could be possible that someone would get the idea of showing anime
in both forms.

Postby **Shao Feng-Li** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:09 pm

AnimeNetwork on demand, baby. YEAH!

Postby **awsam007** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:01 pm

I had the 24/7 Anime Network on cable in Columbus, OH. They were doing so well that the cable system........failed to renew the contract. Sorry kids but Funimation has as much chance of this working as Elvis still being alive and coming back to do one final concert and proclaim to the world that he too enjoyed the last episode of FLCL. I've researched the anime on tv thing a little and it seems that from a business perspective it's not only a tough sell, but almost impossible. Let's face it, 90% of the country could care less about anime and when it comes to TV it's all about advertisers, which means it's all about ratings. The fact that me, my two cats and some dude in his basement were prob the only one's watching Anime Network isn't a good sign for the future. I've read that in fact this is the first year where teh anime/manga market in america is actually slowing down. The "boom" is over folks, sorry to burst your bubble, but don't hold your breath over this new network. As far as showing subs go, are you kidding? The ratings for dubs aren't enough to beat out reruns of Mr. Ed on Nick at Night at 4am, so you can imagine a cable system exec's response when Funimation or ADV tries to sell them on that idea!

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:48 pm

Mr.Ed doesn't air on Nick-At-Nite.

As far as it goes I would have to disagree.Remember Anime is a niche market like
Sci Fi and niche markets have their ups and downs more often than any other type.

Postby **awsam007** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:12 am

What does it being a niche market have to do with anything? I'm talking about them trying to sustain support and money for a TV network, which is a lot tougher business to keep afloat than selling DVD's and manga. Licensing and books areone thing, but television is a tough arena, where you have to have ratings (not just niche fans) to back up your expenses. I hope they do well, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Postby **rocklobster** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:50 pm

If niche markets were really a problem, channels like Sci-fi channel and the Football network wouldn't exist.

Postby **Naga Kisaki** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:09 pm

There's an Anime Channel? WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME! ? ! ?

Seriously, I didn't know... Is it available in all areas?

Postby **awsam007** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:54 am

SciFi and NFL football compared to anime? Umm, the parallels aren't exactly there. I wish anime was that popular but I'm just being realistic.

Postby **freerock1** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:43 am

FUNi's level of success will probably depend largely on whether they're trying to make it as an advertising-driven network. Most new networks these days aren't really going the ad-driven route, at least not initially. A lot of channels get some kind of a financial kickback from cable and satellite providers that carry their network, so a lot of media outfits that have large libraries launch cable networks so that they can make some money off their libraries, rather than just letting them set (case in point, Nicktoons, and from a few years ago, Turner Classic Movies). If a channel becomes popular enough, they may start to take on some advertising (as Nicktoons and Anime Network are starting to do), and eventually go in more of an ad-driven direction (i.e., AMC. I believe TV Land and Game Show Network (now GSN) took that approach as well.)

The whole reason ratings are important (besides bragging rights) is that ratings drive ad rates. Most of the new up-and-coming networks know they don't have the viewership yet to charge too much for advertising, so they're not going to put too much effort into it until they start building a solid viewer base.

My guess is that this will be FUNi's approach. They're probably hoping they can start pulling in advertising at some point, but until then they'll probably be happy to get a little extra income from the cable carriers that take on the network, in addition to what they're getting from DVD sales and licensing agreements.

Just my $.02...

Postby **rocklobster** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:45 am

awsam007 wrote:SciFi and NFL football compared to anime? Umm, the parallels aren't exactly there. I wish anime was that popular but I'm just being realistic.

That wasn't what I meant. I was merely saying that niche markets are not a valid excuse for a network's lack of success.

FUNimation launches its own TV network

FUNimation to launch its own TV network

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