Anime Network launches video-on-demand in the UK

chaos

chaos

The Boss
"UK ANIME FANS CAN NOW WATCH WHAT THEY WANT, WHEN THEY WANT, AND IT WON'T COST THE EARTH!

HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA, 6th AUGUST 2009

As a recent article in the Guardian newspaper pointed out, UK anime fans have received slim pickings from the nation's broadcasters for the last few years. Dedicated cable channels have come and gone (mostly gone), and the mainstream broadcasters only think of anime when they're planning a Japan season, or when Jonathan Ross is given free rein to make shows about his otaku side.

Well now things are changing. This week the Anime Network, America's leading anime channel, launched its popular video-on-demand service in the UK, at a recession-busting monthly price of only £4.95. This is the first legitimate streaming video service available to UK anime fans (and those who are just curious), from the company behind the UK's first dedicated anime block, which appeared on Sky 195.

The Anime Network offers access to a huge library of films and series, including Elfen Lied, Lady Death, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, Azumanga Daioh and Cromartie High School, all for a monthly subscription fee far less than most anime DVDs. This is not even mentioning the many free sample episodes available without even needing to sign up in some cases!

Not only that, but the Anime Network online forums are some of the liveliest, most well-informed (and naturally well-opinionated) anime forums you can find online, and Anime Network UK will include UK-specific forums as well as allowing users the chance to talk anime with other fans worldwide.


Anime Network offers three levels of content...

<b>Free content</b> enables newcomers to sample a few episodes to see if anime is to their taste, and regular users to catch the first episode of something new, all without having to sign in.

<b>Registered content</b> is the next stage - just take a couple of minutes to set up a free account, and a load more episodes will be available. You will also have access to our extensive forums, where you can ask other fans for advice, or just chat anime.

<b>Subscribed content</b> is the ultimate level. For just &pound;4.95 every month, you will have access to absolutely every show on the website, as soon as it comes out. You'll be able to gorge yourself on non-stop anime, 24 hours a day, from hundreds of hours of available series.

Just visit <a href="http://www.theanimenetwork.co.uk"> www.theanimenetwork.co.uk </a> to take part in the full on-demand anime experience."

From Anime Network press release.
 
You know those 4chan images people like to post? Remember the one with Spock informing the Captain about "large amounts of win" being in this sector?

I have the strong inclination to post such an image.
 
I am not sure if something like this is worth it for me considering how many DVDs I buy. I have watched stuff on Funimation's site and crunchyroll though, so I will probably give it a look over to see if it is worth supporting.
 
I had a look through the list of shows and was surprised at how many I haven't seen and wouldn't mind watching. Most of the ADV titles I really wanted to see I already own, though, and I'm not sure how I feel about paying to watch anime on my PC monitor. A proper TV channel and I'd be all over it.
 
*Does a little dance at the amount of free content if you register*

I'll probably subscribe on the occasional month for some things, just so that some money is going to the proper companies.

Now to see if I can get it running through the PS3...
 
Akaihane said:
*Does a little dance at the amount of free content if you register*

I'll probably subscribe on the occasional month for some things, just so that some money is going to the proper companies.

Now to see if I can get it running through the PS3...
Click to expand...



1 To 3 episodes WHOOOPEE!!!! *Dance with*
 
I just registered (ayase same as here, with my old avatar) and there looks to be a pretty impressive amount of content - and unlike some my laptop has a useful HDMI port so I can watch on my TV. :p

I'll certainly be using it to sample Cromartie and FMP: Fumoffu. It's currently slow as all hell mind.
 
Fumoffu is awesome, ayase. I believe you will like it.
Cromartie is ok-ish.

It's still in beta and has just been released. I expect a few more weeks before they have a steady service.

Hopefully they are not like google, who keeps things in Beta for years! =P
 
Haven't had time to read through the whole site yet, but I take it the subscription fee is based on watching things online only - that is to say, you can't actually own what you watch?
 
I'd consider an online-only service to be perfectly acceptable. That is assuming there are always worthy titles available, and that the service remains accessible.
 
Didn't see this one comming, tis nice to see. Despite this, their video quality is definitely not the best. Also, I don't watch series streamed online, I either go for the full-quality download, or buy them.
 
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