SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Crunchyroll, Inc., the leading global video streaming service for anime, announced today the beta launch of a new streaming service dedicated to super-serving fans of Korean dramas and other Korean programs. The new service, called “KDrama”, is available immediately to all current Crunchyroll subscribers and will be launched to the public in the coming weeks. More details can be found at http://www.kdrama.com
The content lineup includes simulcasts of primetime Korean drama shows from Korea’s leading broadcast networks KBS, MBC, SBS and CJ E&M and features exclusive content offerings, along with thousands of hours of new and catalog titles. Leveraging its expertise and leadership in simulcast and global video streaming, KDrama will deliver simulcast episodes the same day as their TV broadcasts in Korea, with professional English language subtitles. KDrama viewers can watch via www.kdrama.com, Android, and iOS, with additional platforms to be announced. The service, launching first in North America, will offer both advertising-supported content free to all viewers, as well as a premium subscription service. During the limited beta period, existing Crunchyroll subscribers can access the premium KDrama subscription at no additional charge.
“We are focused on serving new and avid fans by bringing them the best and most complete content offerings. Our KDrama offering provides fans with the best Korean dramas in a clean and simple user experience” said Founder and CEO, Kun Gao. “We are excited to provide exclusive beta access of KDrama to our existing Crunchyroll subscribers at no charge, and we are always looking for more opportunities to bring additional value to our most loyal members.”
The launch of Kdrama comes on the heels of recent Crunchyroll announcements. In January, Crunchyroll announced a groundbreaking winter season line-up of more than 50 anime simulcasts – the broadest offering of fresh, subtitled anime content available on any platform globally. Approximately 90% of all non-kids anime titles on-air in Japan currently stream for their global premieres on the Crunchyroll service within minutes of their Japanese TV broadcasts. In addition to streaming content to viewers and subscribers from more than 200 countries and territories in multiple languages, Crunchyroll continues to super-serve the anime audience beyond video. In January, Crunchyroll expanded its digital manga (comic book) distribution platform to include 20 translated titles that become available to subscribers globally as soon as they hit newsstands in Japan. Crunchyroll Manga features titles from leading publishers such as Kodansha, Shonen Gohasha and Futabasha.
In December 2013, Crunchyroll closed an investment from The Chernin Group (TCG). TCG joined existing investors TV TOKYO and the founding team. With new funding and an alliance with TCG, the company plans to accelerate its investment in the growth of the anime business, as well as expand offerings in other genres, the first of which is the newly launched KDrama service.
About Crunchyroll, Inc.
Crunchyroll is a leading global destination and platform for Japanese anime and Asian content. Through applications including Crunchyroll for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle, Playstation®3, Playstation®4, Xbox LIVE®, AppleTV, Roku, Internet-enabled TVs, set-top boxes, affiliate websites and its own streaming website, Crunchyroll delivers more than 25,000 episodes and 15,000 hours of officially-licensed content from leading Asian media producers direct to viewers translated professionally in multiple languages within minutes of TV broadcast. Crunchyroll’s majority investor is The Chernin Group, LLC (TCG), a privately-held, independent media holding company founded in 2010 by Peter Chernin and based in Los Angeles, CA. TCG builds, manages, operates and invests in businesses in the media, entertainment and technology sectors around the world. Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tokyo, and is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA). More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com.
