AMC Networks acquires anime distributor Sentai Holdings

AMC Networks announced today it has acquired Sentai Holdings, LLC, global supplier of anime content and parent company of Sentai Filmworks and HiDive.

The purchase also includes all the Sentai holdings from Cool Japan Fund, Inc., a public-private Japanese investment fund.

The HiDive anime streaming service will now be joining AMC Networks and its large portfolio of services which includes AMC+, ALLBLK, Acorn TV, IFC, Shudder, Sundance Now, and others.

With the recent purchase, AMC Networks (no relation with AMC Theatres) is entering into the world of anime distribution. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

According to AMC Networks’ press release, “Japanese anime is a rapidly growing entertainment category, with a highly-engaged global fanbase propelled by its unique aesthetics and evangelical fans, convention culture and increased online accessibility.”

“We are thrilled by AMC Networks’ acquisition and are excited to be a part of their growth strategy,” said Sentai founder John Ledford. “This acquisition will not change Sentai’s mission to deliver the most exciting anime content to audiences around the world — it will expand it greatly and will give our content businesses more distribution, more partnerships, more scale and more reach. I could not be more pleased.”

This news comes seven months after Sony via Funimation acquired Crunchyroll for $1.175 billion USD.

[Source]: AMC Networks: AMC Networks Acquires Leading Global Anime Distributor Sentai, including Direcot-to-Consumer Anime Platform HiDive – [Archive].