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HIDIVE to End Service in Certain Areas Outside N. America on December 14 (Updated)
posted on by Alex Mateo
The company did not give a specific reason beyond that it this decision has been made after "constantly evaluating the HIDIVE offering" and its "area of operation."
Update: HIDIVE provided ANN with the following statement:
In light of the strong demand for anime content around the world, we are constantly evaluating the HIDIVE business and are strategically focusing our operations on the fast-growing global markets that represent approximately 98 percent of our current customer base. This move will unfortunately result in the disruption of service for some customers outside of our major markets. We are working directly withthose customers to manage through this transition.
AMC Networks acquired Sentai Holdings, LLC, which includes Sentai Filmworks and the HIDIVE streaming service, in January 2022. The acquisition includes all of the member interests from Cool Japan Fund, Inc., a public-private Japanese investment fund.
Sentai Filmworks is a global supplier of anime and official merchandise. The company's brands include the HIDIVE streaming service, SentaiFilmworks.com, Anime Network cable video-on-demand, and Sentai Studios. Sentai Filmworks has licensed numerous anime, including Made in Abyss, Akame ga KILL!, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, and Parasyte -the maxim-.
The Plex streaming service added in March an "Anime x HIDIVE" channel that plays anime licensed by Sentai Filmworks all day for free with advertisements.
Sentai Filmworks and Japan's Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) entered a new partnership and distribution agreement in March. The deal provides exclusive rights for HIDIVE to stream part of MBS' future programming in all global markets outside of Asia.
Update: Added statement from HIDIVE. Source: Email correspondence
Source: HIDIVE
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history