Funimation is parting ways with VRV, the over-the-top (OTT) aggregator run by AT&T-owned Ellation, the streamer announced Thursday.
The company didn’t go into detail as to why Funimation, which specializes in anime-centric content, decided to drop its OTT channel from the platform.
However, starting Nov. 11, VRV subscribers will need to go to Funimation’s owned and operated, $5.99 per month streaming platform if they want to keep up with its content.
But as Funimation leaves the platform, another anime contender enters. VRV has inked a new partnership with anime-centric streaming service HIDIVE. The new channel will offer VRV users over 500 titles, including “Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma” and “Elfen Lied” along with a large catalogue of classic foreign anime dubbed in English.
Launched in 2016, VRV aggregates over 7 subscription OTT channels. Its users have the option of paying for the channels a la carte for about $3.99-$5.99 each, or they can opt into VRV’s “Combo Pack” for $9.99 per month, which includes all the OTT channels available on the service.
Most recently, the company partnered with Nickelodeon to bring the network’s NickSplat streaming service, which offers an array of classic cartoons from the 90s. Other channels available on the platform include Cartoon Hangover, Crunchyroll, CuriosityStream, DramaFever, Geek & Sundry, Mondo, Nerdist, NickSplat, Rooster Teeth, Shudder and VRV Select.