Crunchyroll Announces First-Ever Streaming Bundle with Unlikely Partner

Crunchyroll has unveiled its inaugural streaming bundle, though the pairing certainly catches one off guard. The premier anime platform has joined forces with Starz to introduce a joint subscription package exclusively available through Prime Video. Exactly how much crossover audience exists between devotees of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and period drama enthusiasts watching Outlander remains to be seen, but time will tell.

While major platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney Plus have increasingly invested in expanding their animation catalogs, Starz has largely remained outside the anime sphere. Furthermore, the network’s original content lineup has appeared relatively selective lately, anchored primarily by the Outlander prequel Blood of My Blood and the ongoing crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Historically, the broadcaster earned widespread acclaim for powerhouse historical epics and thrillers like Spartacus and Ash vs. Evil Dead.

According to a joint statement from both platforms, subscribers can access the combined services for $16.99 per month.

“This offering brings together two services with distinctive programming, giving viewers access to a range of stories and genres,” shared Alison Hoffman, president of Starz Networks, via press release. “The way households discover and consume television continues to evolve. This bundle with Crunchyroll and Prime Video enables us to broaden our reach and introduce the STARZ slate of premium programming to new viewers.”

Following this initial foray, Crunchyroll might pursue similar cross-platform collaborations down the line. Prime Video already functions as a centralized hub hosting numerous standalone services, including Paramount Plus, Peacock, Apple TV, AMC Plus, HBO Max, and BritBox, among others. Logical extensions for future anime-centric bundles could easily encompass dedicated specialists like RetroCrush or AMC’s HiDive.

Over recent years, Crunchyroll has faced mounting criticism for successive subscription fee hikes. Earlier in February, monthly rates climbed by $2 across the Fan, Mega, and Ultimate tiers, raising the Fan tier from $7.99 to $9.99, the Mega tier from $11.99 to $13.99, and the Ultimate tier from $15.99 to $17.99. In an even more controversial move, Sony restricted storefront access exclusively to Mega and Ultimate subscribers. Consequently, members on lower-tier plans are barred from purchasing physical merchandise such as Blu-rays and collectible figures directly from the company. While the platform undeniably maintains the most extensive digital anime repository in the industry, these commercial shifts have sparked considerable user dissatisfaction.

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Source: Polygon