GONZO parent company GDH has announced that they’ll be testing an “open pricing” system with both BLASSREITER and Tower of Druaga ~the Aegis of URUK~ on Crunchyroll this coming season (and if you didn’t know that GONZO was digitally releasing English-subbed versions of both shows on Crunchyroll and other sites, come out from under the rock and breathe again).
The episodes will be made available to English-speaking fans on the same day that they air in Japan, and users will be able to determine their own prices.
This model is designed to services the more market-oriented direction developing in online distribution. And by allowing the users to determine the value of the product and make their voices be heard, GDH derives valuable feedback directly from consumers. Popular titles could generate high offers, with revenues going back to the content providers to offset the costs of distribution and development of future projects…As the first content holder to embrace a “pay-what-you-want” model, GDH will study its feasibility to advocate it as a key to further cultivate the Japanese content business backed up by anime fans all over the world.
In other words, GONZO and CrunchyRoll are going the Radiohead route, at least to try it out. Guys, I HIGHLY recommend paying at least a nominal sum. I’d love to prove to the world that we ARE willing to pay for anime that we can get in a timely manner, instead of just being total leeches.
Read the entire press release under the jump.
Pioneering a new means of revenue generation in the content business
GDH K.K. (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Shinichiro Ishikawa, Securities Code: TSE Mothers 3755, hereinafter GDH) has announced that it will use an open-pricing model as one of the options in the online distribution of The Tower of Druaga -the Aegis of URUK- and BLASSREITER, two new animated series produced by its main production subsidiary GONZO K.K. (Head Office: Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Managing Director: Junji Fujita, hereinafter GONZO).
The two new titles will be available online for viewers overseas on the same day of their Japanese TV broadcast. With the launch of this new service in April, GDH will test an open-pricing system with one of the distribution websites, Crunchyroll.com. This system allows users to determine the price they pay in exchange for downloading the high quality animated episodes. This model is designed to services the more market-oriented direction developing in online distribution. And by allowing the users to determine the value of the product and make their voices be heard, GDH derives valuable feedback directly from consumers. Popular titles could generate high offers, with revenues going back to the content providers to offset the costs of distribution and development of future projects.
Crunchyroll aims to offer to its community a legal alternative to illegal file-sharing and downloading, and at the same time establish online distribution business models such as ad-supported streaming and open pricing for download, in which content providers are able to generate revenue from the market. As the first content holder to embrace a “pay-what-you-want” model, GDH will study its feasibility to advocate it as a key to further cultivate the Japanese content business backed up by anime fans all over the world.
GDH has been actively pioneering new business schemes in the animation industry. By this new experiment of open pricing, it will pursue new business possibilities for content holders, as well as further promoting GONZO titles on a global level.
[About Crunchyroll]
Crunchyroll is the largest online community and destination focused on Asian anime, drama, manga, music, gaming, and car content. Crunchyroll’s distribution channel and partnership program helps content providers monetize and deliver content to over 3.9 million passionate fans worldwide. Founded in September 2006, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and backed by Venrock. Check it out at http://www.crunchyroll.com.
[About GDH K.K.]
GDH is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults through its GONZO animation brand. Kids and family product is distributed through the GONZO FILMS and GONZINO brands. GDH is a world leader in content development targeting both domestic and international audiences with Japan’s trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces.
For additional information, visit www.gdh.co.jp/english (for GDH) and www.gonzo.co.jp (for GONZO - Japanese only).
GDH group companies include GONZO Rosso K.K., GONZO K.K., Future Vision Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., GDH Capital K.K. and GK Entertainment K.K.
Tags: crunchyroll, gdh, gonzo, legal downloads
April 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
It’s really too bad that those shows look so shitty.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
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April 2nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Did you buy In Rainbows? I didn’t buy the download. But I bought a hard copy. Oh, yeah, this is about anime, right…I don’t remember the last time I watched a GONZO show…was NHK by GONZO?