Animax
HDTV) | |
Ownership | |
---|---|
Owner | AK Media (Nojima) |
Key people | Ryoji Nojima, CEO Masao Takiyama, Chairman[1] Akira Sasaki, President |
History | |
Founded | May 20, 1998 |
Links | |
Website | www |
Animax Broadcast Japan Inc. (Japanese: アニマックス, Hepburn: Animakkusu), stylized as ANIMAX in all caps, is a Japanese animation satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of AK Media, it is headquartered in New Pier Takeshiba North Tower[2] in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including AK Media and studios Bandai Namco Filmworks,[1][3] Toei Animation,[4][5] TMS Entertainment, and production company Nihon Ad Systems.[6][7]
Animax is the first and largest 24-hour network in the world dedicated to anime.
Animax previously operated separate TV channels for Asia (four separate feeds for South East Asia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan), South Asia and South Korea; in addition to either owning, or licensing its brand to, several television networks, programming blocks, and VOD platforms around the world. As of 2020, most of these services have either been sold off to third-parties or closed altogether.
History
Established on May 20, 1998, by
Animax also exhibits affiliations with anime pioneer
Noted Japanese celebrities and personalities to have appeared on Animax with their own programs, include actress
Apart from operating its business primarily as a television network, Animax has also begun operating a mobile television service. In February 2007, Animax announced that it would be launching a mobile television service of its network on the mobile phone company MOBAHO! from April 2007, having its programming being viewable by the company's mobile phone subscribers.[12]
On December 18, 2023, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan announced that will sell their stakes in both Animax and sister channel Kids Station to electronic store chain Nojima. The deal was finalized on April 1, 2024.[13][14]
Programming
Animax's programming is dedicated to anime, and it has been acknowledged as the largest 24-hour anime-only network in the world.
Other series it has broadcast both in
International
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
Channel | Country or region | Formerly | Launch year | Replaced by | Shutdown year |
Animax | Japan | May 20, 1998 | |||
Animax (Asian TV channel) | Asia | January 1, 2004 | |||
Animax India | India | July 5, 2004 | Sony Yay
Animax Asia |
April 18, 2017 | |
Animax (Latin America) | Latin America | Locomotion | July 31, 2005 | Sony Spin | May 1, 2011 |
Animax (South Korean TV channel) | South Korea | April 29, 2006 | |||
Animax (German TV channel) |
Germany | May 14, 2007 | discontinued | July 7, 2016 | |
Animax (Eastern European TV channel) | Hungary | A+ Anime | July 2, 2007 | C8 | March 31, 2014 |
Romania | |||||
Czech Republic | |||||
Slovakia | |||||
Animax (African TV channel) | South Africa | November 3, 2007 | Sony MAX
|
February 1, 2011 | |
Animax (block on AXN Italy )
|
Italy | January 12, 2008 | discontinued | 2008 | |
Animax (Portuguese TV channel) | Portugal | April 12, 2008 | AXN Black | May 9, 2011 | |
Animax (Spanish TV channel) | Spain | discontinued | December 31, 2013 | ||
Animax (block on SF) | Australia | November 5, 2008 | 2016 |
Asia
Asian versions of Animax, featuring its programming within separate networks and feeds in their respective regions and languages, were rolled out beginning in 2004. The first one was launched in Taiwan and the Philippines on January 1, 2004, and in Hong Kong on January 12, 2004. A week later, Animax launched in Southeast Asia on January 19, 2004, featuring its programming within feeds in English audio, as well as Japanese audio, with English subtitling, and other languages in the region, becoming the company's first English-language network.[19]
On July 5, 2004, Animax India was launched across India and neighboring countries featuring its programming in English.[20]
On April 29, 2006, Animax started its operations in South Korea, broadcasting separately from Seoul.[21]
In January 2020, Sony sold the South Korean and Southeast Asian Animax channels to former Sony Pictures Television executives Andy Kaplan and George Chien, who have since formed KC Global Media.[22]
Animax ceased transmissions in Laos, 16 March 2021.[citation needed] One year later, Astro shut the channel down on 1 January 2022 in Malaysia.[citation needed]
Latin America
Animax was launched in
Animax Latin America would rebrand in August 2007, coinciding with the premiere of a new adult-oriented programming block named Lollipop.[24] Likewise, on March 18, 2008, it was announced that the mobile service Animax Mobile, available on Japan and Australia, was to be launched as well in Mexico and eventually in other Latin American countries.[25]
Animax Latin America would eventually incorporate live-action programming and was later relaunched as Sony Spin on May 1, 2011, with anime programming retained until March 2012. Sony Spin would be discontinued on July 1, 2014, and replaced with a local version of Lifetime.[26]
North America
Animax has sponsored several anime-based events across
The noted international business newspaper Financial Times, reported, in September 2004, of Sony planning and being "keen" to launch Animax across the United States and North America, after Sony had signed an agreement with the largest cable company in the United States, Comcast, with whom it had co-partnered in a US$4.8 billion acquisition of legendary Hollywood studio MGM, to bring at least three of Sony's television networks across the region.[28][29]
On June 13, 2007, Sony Pictures Television International officially announced that Animax would be launching its mobile television service, Animax Mobile, in Canada from July 2007, on Bell Digital's mobile phone service.[30] This was Animax Mobile's third major expansion, after initially launching the mobile television service in Japan from April 2007 and Australia from June 12, 2007.[31]
On January 17, 2012, the streaming service
Europe
In April 2007, Animax launched across several countries in Europe, including Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, with Sony announcing plans to launch in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland (put on hiatus) and other major countries in the continent, with discussions at an advanced stage.[33][34] The launch marked Animax's first major expansion into Europe.[33][34] The network then soon launched in Germany in May 2007, Spain and Portugal in 2008.[35]
United Kingdom
In October 2007, further details emerged on Animax's launch details in the United Kingdom, with Sony Pictures Television International senior-vice president of international networks Ross Hair being quoted by Brand Republic's Media Week as stating that Sony was preparing to launch Animax in the United Kingdom initially as a video on demand service alongside other Sony television networks, with Sony also looking at launching Animax across the free digital television service Freeview subject to new frequencies and slot being available.[36]
As of April 2011, one of Sony's 3 channels that they were planning to launch in the UK since 2007,
The SVOD service launched online on October 24, 2013, with three simulcast series and over twenty archive series[38] including many titles which originally debuted on Kaze's Anime On Demand service. Some content has also appeared on Sony Movie Channel's Late Night Anime block,[39] with the channel's website referencing Animax. Starting from March 2014, the Late Night Anime block has since been rebranded to Animax. An app for PlayStation 4 was released in October 2014.[40]
On March 5, 2015, Scuzz launched Animax Movie Nights, a weekly block that aired anime movies on Thursday nights for the next month.[41]
On October 15, 2018, the service closed down, with subscribers being directed to Funimation's streaming service.[42]
Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia
In September 2006,
On June 1, 2009, the channel changed its focus, targeting a more broad young adult audience and adding more American television series. At the same time, it dropped support of its forums on its website and, in September 2013, closed them entirely. On June 9, 2009,
On March 31, 2014, the channel was closed down and replaced by
Meanwhile, in Romania, Sony's AXN Spin was launched on 1 March 2013 on
Spain and Portugal
Animax began as a programming block in
The full channel was subsequently launched on April 12, 2008, on the
Italy
Animax in Italy began as a nighttime 1-hour programming block on sister channel
Germany
On May 14, 2007, Sony announced Animax would be launching in
Animax closed on July 7, 2016, but would continue as a VOD service in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, before it was replaced by Crunchyroll on September 30, 2022.
Poland
In
Programs that have aired on the block included
Plans to launch a full Animax network in Poland were scrapped due to financial reasons.[citation needed]
Australia
Animax launched as a two-hour programming block on the
This was Animax's latest English-language venture, following their networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia and South Africa. As of 2016, the block no longer airs.[citation needed]
Animax programming has also been available since June 12, 2007, through its mobile television service, Animax Mobile, available on
Africa
In August 2007, it was announced that Animax would be launching across several countries in Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho, on the DStv satellite service and in Nigeria on HiTV, from March 19, 2009.[56][18]
On 31 October 2010, Animax was removed from DSTV, due to a lack of viewers. The channel had engaged in
South Africa
Animax broadcast on DStv from November 3, 2007, until October 31, 2010.
It featured English language programming.
Animax South Africa premiered programs such as
Other ventures
Animax Mobile
Apart from operating its programming as a television network, Animax begun launching its programming across
As of 2016 the Animax Mobile service is discontinued worldwide.[citation needed]
Animax-branded streaming channels are available in Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Selected Countries also available On Demand Across Southeast Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines) and Germany (Deutschland, Switzerland and Austria).[citation needed]
Game arenas
Sony Pictures Television International signed a deal with developer Arkadium on January 7, 2009, to provide game arenas for Sony Pictures Television International websites, including Animax, with more than forty games licensed.[64][65]
See also
- Animax Taishō
- List of programs broadcast by Animax
References
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External links
- Official sites
- Animax (in Japanese)
- Animax International
- Asia
- Animax Asia
- Animax Korea (in Korean)
- Animax Taiwan (in Chinese)
- Europe
- Animax Germany (in German)