Lawson Entertainment, part of the Lawson Group, has announced its acquisition of the entertainment website Crank-In! from Broadmedia, a move scheduled to take place in December 2025. As part of a broader restructuring, Broadmedia will also transfer related video and comic services to ZITTO by November 2024.
The purchase price for the deal remains undisclosed, but Broadmedia is expected to record a 120 million yen (US$800,000) extraordinary loss. This sale aligns with Broadmedia’s strategy to focus more on education and technology services, while shedding its entertainment-related assets.
Lawson Entertainment, already a major player in Japan’s film and live performance industries, will integrate Crank-In! with its ticketing business and HMV music retail operations, aiming to leverage synergies across its entertainment ventures. Broadmedia, which originally launched Crank-In! in 2003, has evolved the site from a mobile movie information platform into a comprehensive source for both international and domestic entertainment news.
With this acquisition, Lawson aims to strengthen its position in the entertainment sector, adding Crank-In! to its portfolio, which includes cinema operations, anime investments, and live event ticketing.
