Gonzo Works To Be Streamed Simultaneously with Airing
- Thread starter Dan
- Start date
It took a bit of time for this news to actually register. A company doing something right for a change, can't believe it.
I actually thought I felt the sky fall a little bit.
But in all seriousness, it's taken a hell of a long time to make this a reality, and it seems to me that Gonzo were just waiting for a significant number of high profile streaming sites to become active for them to then make their move.
The only problem is: I'm not going to watch anime on a crappy streaming service, so this pay-to-view service better be worth it.
Congratulations for everyone who is perfectly happy to watch anime on youtube and the like though. Actually, I'll be waiting for a proper high quality (preferably HD) file download utility before I'm fully satisfied with this. My views are of a minority though so yeah, this is awesome.
I actually thought I felt the sky fall a little bit.
But in all seriousness, it's taken a hell of a long time to make this a reality, and it seems to me that Gonzo were just waiting for a significant number of high profile streaming sites to become active for them to then make their move.
The only problem is: I'm not going to watch anime on a crappy streaming service, so this pay-to-view service better be worth it.
Congratulations for everyone who is perfectly happy to watch anime on youtube and the like though. Actually, I'll be waiting for a proper high quality (preferably HD) file download utility before I'm fully satisfied with this. My views are of a minority though so yeah, this is awesome.
Dan
Stand User
Being reading a lot on the ANN forums about what people are saying regarding this issue, personally I am very worried about how this will affect DVD releases and more importantly for me the Dub.
Unless the eps are only gonna be available for a limited period then I forsee very limited DVD releases and the end of dubs altogether.
I know dub fans don't have a massive share of the market but on looking on the ratings of shows on ANN i'd say we have at least a 30% share of the market.
Fingers crossed it all turns out for the best, but I really fear for distributors now
Unless the eps are only gonna be available for a limited period then I forsee very limited DVD releases and the end of dubs altogether.
I know dub fans don't have a massive share of the market but on looking on the ratings of shows on ANN i'd say we have at least a 30% share of the market.
Fingers crossed it all turns out for the best, but I really fear for distributors now
From what I can gather they will also provide access to a downloadable, higher quality version for those who prefer (probably with some kind of time-limited DRM or similar). Still, I guess we will see how it pans out in a couple of weeks or so when this all begins...melonpan said:
As far as dubs and DVD releases go, I am sure they will not be terribly affected. Despite what sub fans think the market for English dubs is actually quite a bit stronger than for subtitled anime, it is just that many of those do not frequent the fan-sites (or are not as vocal) as the subs fans. I am sure most people prefer to watch anime with dubs but a great many of those are the people who shop at traditional stores such as HMV rather than shopping online.
MaxonTreik
Chuunibyou
Good stuff. At least now you don't have to worry about wasting hell of a lot of money on DVDs if you end up not liking it by dropping it whenever you feel like it. I wonder how much impact this'll have on fansubbers.
beez_andrew
Great Teacher
Dan said:Being reading a lot on the ANN forums about what people are saying regarding this issue, personally I am very worried about how this will affect DVD releases and more importantly for me the Dub.
Unless the eps are only gonna be available for a limited period then I forsee very limited DVD releases and the end of dubs altogether.
I know dub fans don't have a massive share of the market but on looking on the ratings of shows on ANN i'd say we have at least a 30% share of the market.
Fingers crossed it all turns out for the best, but I really fear for distributors now
You see I've been watching this with intense interest. With regards to DVD release, the effect will almost certainly be either negative or neutral* effect really. It all depends on how it's realized but here's a question - if you buy a download to own product, would you really buy the DVD release just for a dub? Certainly extra incentive would be needed to entice people who have paid for the content already to buy.
That being said, if it encourages people who were not going to buy the DVD release to start to pay in some way for a release then for the Japanese animation scene as a whole it may be a good thing.
There's potentially a whole lot of writing material on this point though and I can elaborate if people are interested but for now it's not an immediately positive thing for distributors looking to license titles like that though at least. Whether it is negative or not remains to be seen though.
All personal analysis below here but:
If one were a betting man I would say it seemed like a rush move perhaps to preempt something else coming soon.
If you look at the models out there at present - Crunchyroll, BOST, Youtube - there's not one that will make for a greatly viable model for profit as whichever was chosen you will be profit sharing etc. Though it is a step in the right direction for distribution perhaps and certainly it will help alleviate old school fansubbers from taking on the work. I underline old school there, a breed not as common now as the newer generation which seem to have mutated the whole concept to an extent.
Will be interesting to see events in the rest of 2008 unfold though I think
.CitizenGeek
Guild Member
Not sure what to make of this ... but I think it's definitely a step in the right direction!
I don't think you're right. Sub-only anime DVDs sell atrociously, especially compared to dubbed anime. Dubbed anime is the only kind of anime shown on TV in the West, too. I'm pretty certain it's just the purist, loud uber-anime-nerds that frequent forums that think dubs are the Anti-Christ. Us dub fans are much more important than you think! :]
Dan said:
I don't think you're right. Sub-only anime DVDs sell atrociously, especially compared to dubbed anime. Dubbed anime is the only kind of anime shown on TV in the West, too. I'm pretty certain it's just the purist, loud uber-anime-nerds that frequent forums that think dubs are the Anti-Christ. Us dub fans are much more important than you think! :]
You've got a point, I watch a respectable amount of dubs on DVDs when I get them. But, Really, You need both dub and sub on a disc. I'm sure some dub only discs would sell atrociously compared to hybrid. Also - Dubs shall always be needed, for as you say: Television exposure.CitizenGeek said:
As for this news, I haven't had plans to watch either shows but with this new service, I'm definitely very tempted. Even if I only watch the first episode. It'll be great to see how this plan of action completes itself. Hopefully the English subtitles shall be of a decent to high standard. ;D
As far as I understand, this news is about Gonzo (or a group within it's franchise) are releasing episodes on the web, at the same time as their Japanese release dates (viewed on Youtube etc.). And for those who want high-quality streamed video, they will have a PPV system for it.
That's my guess, but if I need correcting, please do so.
Otherwise, I think this is good for series that don't get a massive hype towards the west, as for the fans, it's something to watch. However, if it was something that does become popular, or something that I really like, I'd rather have the full product. It makes it rewatchable, especially if it's a slow anime season.
That's my guess, but if I need correcting, please do so.
Otherwise, I think this is good for series that don't get a massive hype towards the west, as for the fans, it's something to watch. However, if it was something that does become popular, or something that I really like, I'd rather have the full product. It makes it rewatchable, especially if it's a slow anime season.
Gawyn said:
That's also what I gathered from reading it. I don't understand how it is at all possible though. Neither of the three services mentioned offer anime to download - it is solely for streaming purposes, and all three services say that clearly on their websites.
BOST-TV are the best quality wise, and their prices are fantastic, less than £1 for an episode, and they do their own subtitles - apparently.
Meh, we'll just have to wait and see. Shouldn't have to wait long either, it's starting in a less than two weeks. BOST-TV's dedicated page to the two new series looks very enticing as well.
To be honest, I just want HD anime, or at least high quality anime. They'd be stupid not to offer it.
Depending how soon I get my new job (that way I won't waste what little money I currently have) I may endulge in the PPV higher quality versions, but theres no chance on earth I'll bother with the 5inch screen low quality streams that the likes of YouTube offer.
I'll die a little inside if I see fansubs for these new shows a few days after the legal streams are released.
I'll die a little inside if I see fansubs for these new shows a few days after the legal streams are released.
hopeful_monster
Thousand Master
Thank the maker, at least one company (even if it is on I don't highly rate) has got the right idea. People want to watch the TV show before they buy the DVD. And that's the key point. Most anime is TV, and to the majority of us TV is something we get for free. Since most anime watchers live with their parents, it is the parent paying the TV licence fee (and cable/ satellite charges) , and for those of us who pay the fee it often gets categorised as a bill and we forget what we get for our money.
With this conception that TV is free can anyone deny the appeal of fan subs compared to shelling out £ 140 (£20 the RRP for most DVD's * 7 volumes) for a series we have never seen. Compare that to shall we say Dr Who where you pay £60 for a show you have already seen and know you like.
Also the comparison works for those who will argue that even if you watch a show it does not mean people will buy the show. Dr Who had veiwing figures of about 1.1million (for the Christmas special), but you can bet your bottom dollar that they didn't shift that many DVD's. Why? Even if we watch a show doesn't mean we'll buy it. Doesn't matter if it's UK, US, or Japanese, however we are more likely to but it if we have seen it. Currently the only way to see it is via fansubs therefore this offers an alternative, and a legal one to boot.
If Gonzo does this along the lines of BBC iPlayer it should work to everyone's advantage (well if i can get WMP working on my computer), you have one week to watch an episode before the next comes out. The flexibility to cater to people around the world, but the time limit to encourage DVD's sales. My only fears are region blocks and the Japanese pricing system (£30 for 2 episodes).
PS- If you're going to say 'yeah but what about movies where i pay £10* for them, and that's as much as a DVD'. Well there you get Hi-Def a screen larger that where i live and a sound system i can feel in my bowels.
*i live in London
PSS- sorry if this seems a little disjointed. Drunk.
With this conception that TV is free can anyone deny the appeal of fan subs compared to shelling out £ 140 (£20 the RRP for most DVD's * 7 volumes) for a series we have never seen. Compare that to shall we say Dr Who where you pay £60 for a show you have already seen and know you like.
Also the comparison works for those who will argue that even if you watch a show it does not mean people will buy the show. Dr Who had veiwing figures of about 1.1million (for the Christmas special), but you can bet your bottom dollar that they didn't shift that many DVD's. Why? Even if we watch a show doesn't mean we'll buy it. Doesn't matter if it's UK, US, or Japanese, however we are more likely to but it if we have seen it. Currently the only way to see it is via fansubs therefore this offers an alternative, and a legal one to boot.
If Gonzo does this along the lines of BBC iPlayer it should work to everyone's advantage (well if i can get WMP working on my computer), you have one week to watch an episode before the next comes out. The flexibility to cater to people around the world, but the time limit to encourage DVD's sales. My only fears are region blocks and the Japanese pricing system (£30 for 2 episodes).
PS- If you're going to say 'yeah but what about movies where i pay £10* for them, and that's as much as a DVD'. Well there you get Hi-Def a screen larger that where i live and a sound system i can feel in my bowels.
*i live in London
PSS- sorry if this seems a little disjointed. Drunk.
I think the next step in this saga, then, is for simultaneously worldwide distribution of physical media. If Japan are going to get DVDs (and BD's!) a couple of months after the show airs, then we should as well.
This is going to be the next problem to face the industry I guess, albeit in the grand scheme of things - a much smaller problem.
Gonzo have conquered the masses, now they need to cater for the real fans.
This is going to be the next problem to face the industry I guess, albeit in the grand scheme of things - a much smaller problem.
Gonzo have conquered the masses, now they need to cater for the real fans.
hopeful_monster
Thousand Master
Define the difference. But this is getting more into the elitism in anime thread i'm planning.melonpan said: