Cinedgm Obtains RetroCrush Anime Streaming Service

RetroCrush, a free anime streaming service for classic titles; sold its rights to Cinedigm

On January 6, Cinedigm announced its acquisition of Digital Media Rights, a digital media company that owns and operates several smaller streaming services. In that acquisition, Cinedigm obtained several streaming channels. Including RetroCrush and AsianCrush, its sister service. AsianCrush streamed Korean TV dramas and movies while RetroCrush provided free old-school anime series with ads. Apparently, Digital Media Rights sold out for over $20 million USD.

RetroCrush wanted to build a community for the consumption and discussion of the Golden Age of Japanese animation. They streamed several unavailable shows like Project A-Ko, Demon Lord Dante, and Kimagure Orange Road and even obtained the rights to stream Adolescence of Utena last summer. They service was doing great, also partnering with Redbox to use there library on Retro’s service.

We don’t know if that partnership is ruined because of Cinedigm, so we’ll have to wait and see. After buying Digital Media Rights, Cinedigm now owns more than thirty streaming services, but it’s all part of a bigger competition. Just before Cinedigm’s purchase, AMC Networks turned to Sentai Filmworks and bought them out along with their streaming service HIDIVE.

Apparently, many companies are turning to anime to add them to their collection. They need to diversify and make sure they have a hand in each genre. Even Netflix, Disney and Sony are cashing in on anime, all buying exclusive anime series for their subscription services. I guess anime really is big, huh?