Crunchyroll discontinues their Download-2-own service

chaos · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:25 am Post subject:

"As Crunchyroll continues to evolve, we add new features and remove ones that don't perform well. Recently we've made a decision to discontinue our Download-to-Own service, which lets users purchase DRM-free, downloadable videos of our popular shows. We believe online streaming video is the future will continue to focus on those efforts. Starting March 31, 2010, no new purchases of video downloads will be allowed. However, your existing downloads will continue to work until May 1, 2010. Please download and save your video files by May 1, 2010.

As an alternative, we offer high quality, ad-free streams through our Premium Membership service. It offers over 50% of currently airing Anime titles in Japan and thousands of catalog episodes for as little as $5/month.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact support@crunchyroll.com."

ayase · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

Ammish · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:37 am Post subject:

chaos · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:47 pm Post subject:

Simply put, it seems that they didn't made any money out of it, so decided to remove the service. What sort of implications this will have on their JP partnerships is yet to be uncovered.

ayase · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

The whole thing just seems bizarre. If people weren't willing to pay to own, but were willing to pay simply to watch then I understand other people even less than I thought...

chaos · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject:

I don't believe they are paying to own or to watch Razz

I mean, not in expressive numbers at least.

Jayme · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

Does CR get good traffic, actually? Unless your part of the anime fandom already, I bet you wouldn't realise there were legal online subs of stuff. It's not like typing a shows name into Google brings up CrunchyRoll - it should, but it doesn't. Anyway, yeah, even if I had a subscription to the site I bet I would just stream the stuff. You can stream in HD with ease, so why download?

HdE · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

Seems bizarre to me.

I mean, I WON'T stream anime, under any circumstances. Broadband coverage in my prehistoric corner of the UK won't let me anyway, but I wouldn't do it even if I could.

Streaming video is the future? Ugh. No thanks. I want anime on nice shiny DVDs. All the way.

Project-2501 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:43 pm Post subject:

Is it just me or does CR seem to have a large number of total fanservice shows?

Jayme · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject:

That might have something to do with the studios they are paired with, however, I've never noticed anything. It's plausible that they are the ones they tend to advertise, though. I try to ignore everything and run to the search box whenever I go on the site.

ilmaestro · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:35 pm Post subject:

Didn't even know they offered this, lol.

And ayase, didn't last.fm come along after iTunes? So they're moving forward. :p

Project-2501 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject:

I didn't think the download to own service even worked on PCs, wasn't it just mobile/games devices?

Rui · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:34 pm Post subject:

Perhaps it was also causing issues in those rare cases where a show is picked up by CR and then subsequently by an R1 company for DVD. Maybe the R1 DVD companies were getting less tempted by series where they wouldn't be able to grab the DTO right as well for themselves, and the fact that CR wasn't finding it profitable led to a natural shake up?

R

mangaman74 · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:25 am Post subject:

For me, neither downloading or streaming are the future. Last thing I want to do is be sat in front of my laptop watching anime - I prefer dvd/blu-ray.

chaos · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:36 am Post subject:

Considering the newer sets let connect to the internet (games consoles, for intance) I'm pretty sure stream will really be the way forward.

To get it righ is going to be a long way yet, but I remember this been discussed when iTunes first came into light. Now everyone take it for granted that you can buy a music file...