Funimation Channel

Funimation Channel
Launched September 29, 2005
Owned by Olympusat
Branding licensed from Funimation[1]
Country United States
Broadcast area United States
Headquarters West Palm Beach, FL
Website http://www.funimation.tv/
Availability
Cable
Available on most cable systems Check local listings for details
IPTV
AT&T U-verse Channel 1484 (HD)

The Funimation Channel is a 24-hour cable network which broadcasts anime series in the United States. Olympusat[2] was chosen as the exclusive distributor of the network.

The linear channel is available on AT&T U-verse, Frontier FiOS, iFiber Communications, Groton Utilities, Sjoberg's Inc, SureWest, TVMAX, Wavevision and [3] Choice Cable TV.[4]

Funimation Channel premiered such titles as Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos movie and Okami-san on its VOD service.[5] The subscription video on-demand service for Funimation Channel is available on Optimum,[6] Charter Communications,[7] Armstrong Cable.[8] The channel launched its HD feed on September 27, 2010.[9]

Colors TV block

The Funimation Channel started out as a block on television network Colours TV. Programs during this era were Dragon Ball, Negima!, Kodocha, The Slayers, Blue Gender, Kiddy Grade, Fruits Basket, Case Closed and YuYu Hakusho.

History

The Funimation Channel is North America's second 24-hour English-dubbed anime digital cable network. The first was A.D. Vision's Anime Network[10] The service originally was available to a few cities via UHF digital signals and was temporary as the channel was trying to gain a foothold in the already crowded digital cable landscape. Another short-term service was the syndication of a FUNimation Channel block to one of OlympuSAT’s affiliate networks, Colours TV syndicated block.[11] Both services were discontinued in favor for a more successful expansion on digital cable, fiber optics and DBS systems, making it now a cable television network.

In May 2009, Funimation Channel continued its expansion on cable launching on Comcast's VOD platform [12] and offering two services - Free On Demand and PPV On Demand. The PPV VOD offers viewers a chance to watch titles prior to their DVD release.[13] Movies and packaged specials are available at $2.99 each while episodes are available at $.99 each.

As of September 27, 2010, a High Definition feed was launched alongside existing VOD services.[14] On February 16, 2012, Verizon announced that it will drop Funimation Channel and Bridges TV from its Verizon FiOS service "on, or after March 15" due to "very low viewership".[15] In response to reaction from Verizon FiOS TV customers, FiOS TV returned Funimation Channel via Video on Demand.[16] Channel 262 remains on the FiOS system operated by Frontier Communications in some ex-Verizon territories.[17] Cablevision's Optimum TV recently launched[18] FUNimation Channel On Demand in the NY/NJ/CT Tri-State area. Adding this MSO increased FUNimation Channel's footprint to over 40 million households nationwide.

Programming

Anime

Anime films

Live-action films

OVAs

References

  1. ↑ Olympusat, Inc. Owns & Operates FUNimation Channel
  2. ↑ "Navarre's Funimation Entertainment and Verizon Sign Distribution Agreement". Navarre. September 29, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Operators". Funimation Channel. October 7, 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Choice Cable TV" (PDF). Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2012-05-02/olympusat-funimation-channel-hd-now-available-to-4-million-subscribers-on-verizon-fios".
  6. ↑ http://optimum.com/digital-cable-tv/on-demand/premium-channels/
  7. ↑ http://blog.funimation.com/2011/01/funimation-channel-on-charter/
  8. ↑ "Armstrong Cable - Funimation Channnel". Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "Funimation Channel Launches on AT&T-U Verse in High-Definition". Anime News Network. September 30, 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Funimation Entertainment Announces the launch of the Funimation Channel in Seattle". Mania. December 20, 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "Navarres Funimation Entertainment Doubles Anime Programming for Syndicated Anime Block". RedOrbit. September 7, 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Funimation Anime on Demand Now on Comcast Nationwide". Anime News Network. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  13. ↑ "PR Newswire". Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Funimation Channel Goes High-Definition". Anime News Network. September 7, 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  15. ↑ "Verizon Drops Funimation Channel from FiOS Service". February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Olympusat’s FUNimation Channel Now Available on Verizon FiOS TV Video on Demand". Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  17. ↑ Frontier FiOS TV channel lineup
  18. ↑ http://www.prweb.com/releases/OptimumTV/FUNimation/prweb10263317.htm

External links