Summary
While streaming has been a godsend for all of us, anime fans in particular have found their favorite hobby more affordable and accessible than ever. While we have written extensively about what it was like to watch anime on Toonami orrent it at Blockbuster, there was a time when anime was big enough that a few companies decided to try and create channels that would be dedicated to anime 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What happened to these channels, what were they like, and what circumstances led to their demise? Let’s discuss this very interesting chapter in the history of anime distribution in America.
What is a Cable Network Channel?
Characteristics of cable network channels include:
Popular examples of cable network channels include CNN (news), ESPN (sports), National Geographic (documentaries and science), Cartoon Network (cartoons), and many more. As you can imagine, anime would soon have their own channels, and It’s interesting to look back at them to see what they did (and didn’t) do.
The International Channel
Although not100%dedicated to anime, The International Channel is certainly worth mentioning. It was a U.S. cable television network that began broadcasting in the early 1980s that primarily aired programming in multiple languages sourced from various international outlets. Catering to immigrant and expatriate communities in the U.S. The channel’s stated goal was to bridge the gap for many immigrants, allowing them to stay connected to their homelands while residing in the United States.
The channel at one point gained a reputation for airing anime during most evenings (long beforeCartoon Network developed Toonami), and it was the first channel to air uncut subtitled anime in the US. Sadly, the channel underwent various changes in ownership and branding before eventually being absorbed into other networks.
The Anime Network
The Anime Network was the first true American cable and satellite television network dedicated to broadcasting anime programs. Launched in 2002 by ADV Films, one of the major anime distributors in North America, The Anime Network offered a wide variety of Japanese animated series, bothdubbed in Englishand in their original Japanese language with English subtitles. Initially, The Anime Network started as a video-on-demand service and eventually expanded into a 24/7 linear cable channel.
Over the years, with the rise of online streaming platforms and the decline of traditional TV viewing (as well as the folding of founding company ADV Films), The Anime Network shifted its primary focus to digital streaming. The network went through several changes in its mode of content delivery before ceasing its cable and satellite television operations. The assets were eventually purchased by Sentai Filmworks (which was founded by former members of ADV Films), and their online services were replaced by HiDive in 2017. In 2022, AMC Entertainment purchased Sentai and (by extension) HiDive to help bolster its online streaming catalog.
Funimation Channel
Though The Anime Network gained a small (but dedicated) audience,Funimation Productionsfelt that they had enough licenses that they could have their own anime channel, and thus the Funimation Channel was created. Launched in 2005, the channel was an effort to bring anime to a wider audience through cable and satellite television (and to collect ad revenue on anime the company licensed as opposed to letting ADV Films collect that money).
The Funimation Channel showcased a variety of anime series and movies, including both dubbed versions in English and original Japanese versions with English subtitles (much like The Anime Network). It aired genres ranging from action and fantasy to romance and drama, catering to diverse tastes within the anime fandom. However, they would soon share a similar fate as The Anime Network did. Over time, the media landscape evolved with the rise of digital streaming platforms. The Funimation Channel was eventually phased out in favor of Funimation Now, a direct-to-consumer streaming site. While that service still exists, the company was bought by Sony, and eventually all the anime from it is planned to befolded into Crunchyroll.
TOKU
Although it is notexactlya 24/7 channel dedicated to anime, itisworth noting that Funimation Channel was eventually transformed into TOKU. As TOKU, the channel is dedicated to broadcasting anime,live-action Asian films, and entertainment content, particularly from the tokusatsu genre.
Operated by Olympusat, TOKU is the closest thing we have to an anime cable channel today. As with most companies, TOKU has expanded its reach with digital streaming platforms, making content accessible to a wider audience. While the focus may not be exclusively anime, it is worth noting as the only cable channel that still dedicates significant resources to anime.
Neon Alley
Though it was never an official cable channel, we would be remiss if we didn’t discuss Neon Valley.Created by Viz Media, Neon Alley was a digital anime streaming service launched in October 2012. It was initially introduced as a 24-hour programmed channel available on gaming consoles like PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, making it unique at the time for its linear, TV-like schedule in the realm of streaming platforms.
Neon Alley’s primary focus was on dubbed versions of anime, offering viewers the chance to watch English-dubbed premieres of popular series shortly after their original Japanese broadcasts. The creation of the service confounded many people, as not only did it operate as a traditional cable network (without being on cable TV), but one of the advantages of having a digital platform was that you could watch entertainment on demand without being beholden to a TV schedule.
Someone must have gotten the memo as in 2014, VIZ Media announced a shift in Neon Alley’s format. Instead of being a 24-hour programmed channel, it transitioned to a more traditional on-demand streaming service. Later, the Neon Alley brand was phased out, and its content was incorporated into VIZ Media’s primary website and streaming platforms. These days most of VIZ Media’s content can be found on Hulu, Tubi, andPlutoTV.
Final Thoughts
Though other cable channels tried to incorporate large chunks of airtime to anime, these were the services that gave making anime on TV a 24-hour business a real shot. These days there is no cable channel that airs anime 24 hours a day, seven days a week anymore. Channels such as Cartoon Network, the aforementioned TOKU, and SyFy still airs a fair amount of anime today, but you have to wait for it to come on.
In contrast, PlutoTV has a number of different online channels that air nothing but anime (and some of those channels are even dedicated to airing single shows like One Piece and Sailor Moon), so in many ways PlutoTV is carrying on the legacy of these channels. With on-demand services likeCrunchyroll, HiDive, and Tubi providing more anime at a cheaper price and a more convenient delivery system, it seems unlikely that another company will try making an all-anime cable network again. That said, Crunchyroll IS creating a 24/7 free anime channel that will be available on Amazon’s Freevee, LG Channels, VIZIO, and The Roku Channel, so if you missed your chance to watch any of those channels it looks like you’ll have the opportunity to experience it again!
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