Sony Group has achieved a significant milestone with its anime streaming platform Crunchyroll, boasting over 13 million paid subscribers as of December 2023. This achievement underscores the platform’s impressive expansion, growing at an average annual rate of 23% since Sony’s acquisition in August 2021. Crunchyroll, a collaborative effort between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, has emerged as a pivotal contributor to Sony Group’s film sector’s growth.
The platform offers a vast array of anime and manga content to audiences in over 200 countries and regions. Crunchyroll has diversified its revenue streams beyond subscription fees, engaging fans through advertising-supported content, events, theatrical releases, games, merchandise, and manga publishing. This multifaceted approach not only enhances the value proposition for subscribers but also fosters a vibrant anime community globally.
Sony’s strategy involves leveraging partnerships with external entities like Amazon and expanding its footprint in burgeoning markets such as Brazil, India, and Southeast Asia. By promoting anime in movie theaters and broadening its distribution and e-commerce capabilities, Crunchyroll aims to attract new anime enthusiasts and deepen the engagement levels of its existing fanbase.
Looking ahead, Sony anticipates a significant reduction in amortization costs related to the Crunchyroll acquisition starting from the fiscal year ending March 2025, further boosting its profitability. This forward momentum highlights Sony’s commitment to strengthening its position in the global entertainment landscape through strategic investments in popular and emerging content platforms.
