 | |
| Country | United States, Canada United Kingdom (former) |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | A.D. Vision (2002-2009) Sentai Holdings, LLC (AMC Networks) |
| History | |
| Launched | 2002 |
| Closed | 2008 (linear broadcasting) 2023 (subscription video on demand service) |
| Replaced by | ANIME x HIDIVE HIDIVE (streaming) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Anime Network was an Americanvideo on demand (VOD) network dedicated toanime owned bySentai Filmworks, which has been a part ofAMC Networks since January 2022. The network also had its own streaming service Anime Network Online, which was discontinued and replaced in June 2017 byHIDIVE.
The network was launched inNorth America in late 2002 and is marketed tomulti system operators (MSOs) as both a free and subscription video on demand (VOD) programming service. Anime Network also provides online streaming of its anime for North America[1] via its website with free full-length preview episodes for non-members, more episodes for members, and all online titles available for subscribers.
In October 2007, Anime Network was launched onDirecTV On Demand, initially on channel 1801 at launch. From the fall of 2015 through the network's end, it was found on channel 1889.[2]
The Anime Network ceased broadcast of its linear 24/7 network on January 1, 2008; it continues to support a VOD service and online player on itsmain website.[3] On September 1, 2009,A.D. Vision had sold off Anime Network to Valkyrie Media Partners LLC. with as part of the dissolution of the company and the reorganization of its assets.[4]
On June 20, 2017, with the launch ofHidive,Section23 Films announced it would discontinue the Anime Network Online streaming service and focus solely on Anime Network's pay television and subscription VOD services, while HIDIVE, LLC, a new company which is not affiliated with Anime Network, Section23, orSentai Filmworks, acquired Anime Network Online's assets and spun them off into the newly formed streaming service.[5] That same day, Anime Network Inc. announced it acquired the "www.theanimenetwork.com" domain name from Anime Network Online.[6]
As of 2023, the Anime Network has been discontinued with all of the Anime Network's licensed anime library were transferred toHidive.
At launch, the Anime Network was only available by video on demand to Comcast subscribers in the Philadelphia area with 1.2 million customers with more providers choosing to carry the service later on. The linear service launched on June 30, 2004, to complement the VOD service.[3][7] Comcast Communications previously carried the channel on video on demand since its launch. On May 29, 2009, Comcast discontinued carriage of the service in both its free package and its pay-per-view digital television package which, however, are periodically included among Comcast Xfinity's Top Picks.[8]
From June 30, 2004, to January 4, 2008, Anime Network offered a 24/7 channel available to pay television providers. The service was only carried by small cable companies. On January 4, 2008, Anime Network officially announced that the 24/7 service would cease operations. The network will still operate as a VOD provider.[3]
The Anime Network's content was distributed throughvideo on demand in two formats.
| Type | Abbreviation | Content Information | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free On Demand | Free VOD | Up to 18 episodes per week. Content is unedited and not ad supported.[9][10] | Available toDirecTV,Time Warner Cable,Bright House Networks andBuckeye CableSystem[11] customers. Providers who offerSubscription On Demand may make theFree On Demand package available to all their customers. |
| Subscription On Demand | SVOD | Up to 45 hours, content is unedited.Subscription On Demand subscribers also receive new premieres, shows, and exclusive content not available toFree On Demand customers.[12] | Carried on six of the nation's top ten cable providers and various smaller cable companies. Providers likeCox,Suddenlink andInsight will also distribute theFree On Demand package to all their customers. Some providers likeCharter,Mediacom andShaw Digital TV will only make theSubscription On Demand package available.Dish Network carries a pay-per-view basedSubscription On Demand on their DISH Online service. |
Sony announced atE3 2010 that thePlayStation Network would begin carrying The Anime Network.[13]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Network | Propeller TV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | A.D. Vision |
| History | |
| Launched | June 3, 2007 (2007-06-03) |
| Closed | January 1, 2008 (2008-01-01) |
On June 3, 2007, Anime Network was launched in the United Kingdom as a programming block on thePropeller TV satellite channel, produced byA.D. Vision. It was broadcast as a 2-hour block with 4 different anime series and aired from 8:00pm to 10:00pm, 7 days a week. The block was removed from the schedule on January 1, 2008, which was the same day Anime Network discontinued its North American 24/7 linear service to continue to support its VOD service.