FUNimation Talks Streaming Numbers

[Chris Beveridge]

FUNimation issued a press release (http://www.mania.com/funimation-serves-8-million-anime-views_article_122107.html) recently that talked about their streaming service and how it was performing. Crunchyroll then issued their own press release (http://www.mania.com/crunchyroll-sees-unprecedented-growth_article_122315.html) which, after a quick revision, had quite a different number from what FUNimation had...

More... (http://www.mania.com/funimation-talks-streaming-numbers_article_122446.html)

[The Great Bear]

Vaguely interesting. Both trying not to stomp over CR by saying a couple encouraging "we're in this together" bits, while at the same time trying to put CR "in their place," so to speak.

It's nice and all that there are these millions of video views. But unless these millions of viewings are also bringing in a decent amount of revenue, even indirectly through encouraging some DVD sales for FUNimation, it is not really of great importance.

[Draneor]

As far as simultaneous streaming goes, I hope FUNimation fails and fails hard. CR usually meets my needs both in terms of titles, style, speed, and quality while FUNi doesn't give a crap what I want. In addition, I am categorically opposed to closing off the internet to national borders. While there are real restraints that prevent anime from being legally streamed worldwide, CR has made an attempt to expand it beyond the USA and Canada each season. On the other hand, FUNi refuses to even stream to every region for which they have rights to (UK). If CR can limit shows based on IP address, FUNi should be able to too.

FUNi should stick to promoting content they intend to release on DVD unless they are willing to enter the global 21st century that is the internet.

[wallflower]

Unless both companies starts giving out hard numbers as to quarterly profits whether simulcast is working or not, the millions of views means nothing.

[SetisDagre]

As far as simultaneous streaming goes, I hope FUNimation fails and fails hard. CR usually meets my needs both in terms of titles, style, speed, and quality while FUNi doesn't give a crap what I want.

That's the beauty of competition. If Funimation fails as you'd like, and CR stops serving "what you want", you'll be SOL won't you?

Competition is good.

[Fencedude]

As far as simultaneous streaming goes, I hope FUNimation fails and fails hard. CR usually meets my needs both in terms of titles, style, speed, and quality while FUNi doesn't give a crap what I want.

That's the beauty of competition. If Funimation fails as you'd like, and CR stops serving "what you want", you'll be SOL won't you?

Competition is good.

Except anime isn't fungible.

[something]

That's the beauty of competition.
There's no beauty when Funi is the alternative. If all I were left with for streaming was Funi, it'd be exactly the same for me as no streaming at all.

[Betenoire]

Competition is good.

Better when it actually is used by a company to improve their service.

And FUNi has yet to do that in a way that makes it usable for me. Like something, FUNi isn't an alternative for me. So they really aren't competition for my streaming watching.

[SetisDagre]

Maybe not for you, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who do use them. And if they weren't around, and CR was the only game in town they'd have less incentive to innovate and "give you what you want".

[Betenoire]

Maybe not for you, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who do use them. And if they weren't around, and CR was the only game in town they'd have less incentive to innovate and "give you what you want".

Actually they have more reason to give me what I want as I am a subscriber to their service. FUNi on the other hand seems to be mostly using thier site as promotion for trying to sell DVDs and if so then the bulk of their concern is not so much with the streaming side.

And even if FUNi weren't around it is ridiculous to pretend CR would be the only streaming source around, so CR isn't just in competition with FUNi...or any other legal source one could name. If CR hopes to make their model work they need to be very receptive to subscriber concerns.

[Project-2501]

Slight tangent but does anyone know the sorts of numbers TheAnimeNetwork gets on it VOD service?

Over here in the UK its pretty much CR or youtube. Its annoying that Funi won't let us watch series they have licensed in the UK. CR isn't perfect, when I checked about a month ago we could see 68% of the available titles. Admittedly a good number of the restricted titles are old ADV series so its not a huge loss.

On the other hand TAN came in at 53% UK viewable when I checked at the end of 2009.

[Legion]

What's wrong with FUNimation's streaming?

[Draneor]

That's the beauty of competition. If Funimation fails as you'd like, and CR stops serving "what you want", you'll be SOL won't you?

No, not really. There are other legal options besides CR, included paying for a Japanese TV feed. Not to mention the illegal ones. I support CR because I believe it's a good resolution to the "fansub problem." It's a compromise, sure, but I'm not expecting perfection.

I have no problem with other people liking FUNi's service, but I will not support it nor do I see value in it (for the reasons I listed). Note this doesn't mean I will watch "their shows" via illegal means. Instead, I will either just not watch them or, in BakaTest's case, wait until I get the BDs to finish.

And if they weren't around, and CR was the only game in town they'd have less incentive to innovate and "give you what you want".

The flaw in your reasoning is that CR's primary competition for viewers is not FUNimation--it's fansubs and sites like YouTube. FUNimation is their competition in terms of acquiring titles though. While I can see the benefit of having competition for the licensors, I'm uncertain if this is good for consumers (in the short term). It may lead to less titles and longer delays.

FUNi on the other hand seems to be mostly using their site as promotion for trying to sell DVDs and if so then the bulk of their concern is not so much with the streaming side.

I have no problem with this, and I'd like them to keep this focus. What does annoy me is the DVD part seems to take so long.

[Betenoire]

FUNi on the other hand seems to be mostly using their site as promotion for trying to sell DVDs and if so then the bulk of their concern is not so much with the streaming side.

I have no problem with this, and I'd like them to keep this focus. What does annoy me is the DVD part seems to take so long.

I don't have a problem with it as such, it's just that since it is not their main focus they have less reason to address problems with their player...then again, it isn't like they have been quick to address complaints about their encodes for years either so maybe their complaint section enters directly into a spam box or shredder.

[broodwars]

Wow, so many people complaining about Funimation's online streaming site, and honestly I can't understand why. Yeah, I've had issues with their video player as well and they don't add titles (especially dubbed) to their site as often as I'd like, but overall it's a serviceable site and most importantly it's free.

[Betenoire]

Wow, so many people complaining about Funimation's online streaming site, and honestly I can't understand why. Yeah, I've had issues with their video player as well and they don't add titles (especially dubbed) to their site as often as I'd like, but overall it's a serviceable site and most importantly it's free.

But I am willing to pay for a service that I find value in.

Free is worthless to me if I can't get the player to work right.

[Draneor]

And most importantly it's free.

I've never asked for anime to be free. Others have, but I'm willing to pay for what I want. The price isn't relevant to my interests.

Think of it this way. Many people want free MMORPGs and so they play stuff like Runescape. On the other hand, many people are also willing to pay for a game with better production values, like WoW.

[TheGreenMan]

Funi, please make a iPhone/Ipad streaming app.

[Suwako Moriya]

Free is worthless to me if I can't get the player to work right.

Exactly. Although to be fair, if we believe the comments of various people, it almost seems like a random luck of the draw. Like it's dependent on the specific computer, the time of the day, the position of the stars, etc.

I have gotten Funimation's player to work multiple times. I've also had it get stuck multiple times. Make of that what you will. Although it has been working better lately.

Not that I've been streaming much from there lately. Heck the last two series I watched episodes from were Hulu embedded videos and I sort of dropped both of those series anyway.

Speaking of which, being "free" is of a limited advantage anyway. Since the others have free aspects as well. I can watch plenty of anime on Hulu for free. Accept a week behind and I can watch most CR stuff.

I will say this much. I do prefer stuff being on CR, but if a show is on Funimation, I might consider giving it a shot depending on the show and other factors.

[SetisDagre]

Well Funi's been posting a lot of their stuff to Hulu and Youtube lately too.