rocketgirl
New member
Anime Network, Funimation Launch YouTube Video Rentals
Source: Anime News Network
Please change title name, I seem to goof up.
Source: Anime News Network
Please change title name, I seem to goof up.
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Anime Network, Funimation Launch YouTube Rentals
- Thread starter rocketgirl
- Start date
WishfulThinker
New member
I don't see the point. At least for the Funimation stuff. You can watch them for free, most of them you can download to own for another dollar, and they'll all be released on DVD eventually. I don't see why you'd pay a dollar to rent them. But hey, if you do, good on you. There's certainly nothing wrong with them adding another method of distribution.
Fixed.
I am not very enthused about this. It's one thing to rent media to your television, but to a smaller computer screen? FUNimation is at least wise to charge a dollar for an episode; Anime Network's prices are absolutely boneheaded. At $2 an episode for a 26 episode series like Tears to Tiara, you might as well just buy the permanent DVD release in the first place. There is no reason whatsoever to rent.
Well, here's the trick: for those shows, the dubs for most of the episodes are basically behind a pay wall. In a situation where you (a) want the dub and (b) have a reasonable expectation that you will only watch something once, it's cheaper to finish it with a rent.
I guess we'll see how it goes. Those four shows have basically become a trial of the business model, it seems.
I am not very enthused about this. It's one thing to rent media to your television, but to a smaller computer screen? FUNimation is at least wise to charge a dollar for an episode; Anime Network's prices are absolutely boneheaded. At $2 an episode for a 26 episode series like Tears to Tiara, you might as well just buy the permanent DVD release in the first place. There is no reason whatsoever to rent.
Well, here's the trick: for those shows, the dubs for most of the episodes are basically behind a pay wall. In a situation where you (a) want the dub and (b) have a reasonable expectation that you will only watch something once, it's cheaper to finish it with a rent.
I guess we'll see how it goes. Those four shows have basically become a trial of the business model, it seems.
Confused44
New member
It always makes me laugh when people say this... My computer screen is FAR better than my TV screen.
I'd much rather watch shows on my computer. Wide screen and 1080p.
But I do not see the point in renting these anime... Weren't those FUNimation titles up to stream for free?
I'd much rather watch shows on my computer. Wide screen and 1080p.
But I do not see the point in renting these anime... Weren't those FUNimation titles up to stream for free?
My TV is very good 32 inch HD television; my screen's size is 22. I like streaming and care about it a lot, but given the choice the TV usually wins. Especially since my setup has the TV directly across from the bed. Technically I can use my PS3's browser to access Youtube and other video players, but it's a chore to use.
As I explained earlier the Funi series were up for free subbed and partially dubbed; the temptation is basically for dub fans on a tight budget, as I see it.
As I explained earlier the Funi series were up for free subbed and partially dubbed; the temptation is basically for dub fans on a tight budget, as I see it.
Papa Roach
New member
Yeah, I guess I've just never been in that situation.
loop-a-doop
New member
There goes one more service I will never be using even if I actually could.
To make a long story short, this reminRAB me a little too much of the whole Xam'd fiasco. Or, to be a little more accurate, a slightly less counterproductive version of the same exercise if none of these titles are going to be exclusively distributed as rental products.
But even then...why go to the trouble of renting something when you can either stream the first few episodes, buy all the discs in one go or resort to other means? Granted, I'm sure this will be convenient for some people but I don't see it being too successful overall.
I suppose there's always a chance I might have to eat my worRAB though...but we'll see.
To make a long story short, this reminRAB me a little too much of the whole Xam'd fiasco. Or, to be a little more accurate, a slightly less counterproductive version of the same exercise if none of these titles are going to be exclusively distributed as rental products.
But even then...why go to the trouble of renting something when you can either stream the first few episodes, buy all the discs in one go or resort to other means? Granted, I'm sure this will be convenient for some people but I don't see it being too successful overall.
I suppose there's always a chance I might have to eat my worRAB though...but we'll see.
Anne Boylen
New member
The difference between what they're doing and Xamd is huge. Xamd was only available through a very specific system.
This is simply option D out of many. Like Seat warmers.
This is simply option D out of many. Like Seat warmers.
Here's some more info from Funimation from their YouTube page:
Plus, I already mentioned this in the free streaming thread, but it makes me mad since the rental listings are integrated with the free listings (which itself is sloppier IMO than Hulu's or FuniVideo). And, it's not just these two anime companies doing it, since YouTube launched this in time for Sundance and are offering some movies from the festival for a limited time; heck, I was thinking about posting this on TEB instead of the anime board due to this. I won't be using it since I don't want to use Google Checkout, but I can see YouTube Rental's purpose.
As for the rates, they do reflect the usage of said rentals and varies from content provider to content provider. Funi's 99-cents-an-episode fee is good to see the video for 24 hours, while TAN's $1.99-an-episode and $3.99-per-movie allows you to see these videos as many times as you want for 7 full days. Most of the Sundance movies are good for multiple viewings for 48 hours. For movies, they're in line with what is offered on other services (ie Amazon VOD, iTunes, PSN, and Xbox Live/Zune) if not better on certain usage cases.
As for Xam'd, it's a special case and should not be compared to this. Especially considering that the $2.99/$3.99-per-episode (SD/HD) fee is for a subtitled-only anime that, for a short period, was available ONLY IN AMERICA and can only be accessed/rented/viewed on a PS3 and/or a PSP. Quality of the series aside (thought it was good, but playing devil's advocate), that bolded sentence is something you don't get every single day.
Plus, I already mentioned this in the free streaming thread, but it makes me mad since the rental listings are integrated with the free listings (which itself is sloppier IMO than Hulu's or FuniVideo). And, it's not just these two anime companies doing it, since YouTube launched this in time for Sundance and are offering some movies from the festival for a limited time; heck, I was thinking about posting this on TEB instead of the anime board due to this. I won't be using it since I don't want to use Google Checkout, but I can see YouTube Rental's purpose.
As for the rates, they do reflect the usage of said rentals and varies from content provider to content provider. Funi's 99-cents-an-episode fee is good to see the video for 24 hours, while TAN's $1.99-an-episode and $3.99-per-movie allows you to see these videos as many times as you want for 7 full days. Most of the Sundance movies are good for multiple viewings for 48 hours. For movies, they're in line with what is offered on other services (ie Amazon VOD, iTunes, PSN, and Xbox Live/Zune) if not better on certain usage cases.
As for Xam'd, it's a special case and should not be compared to this. Especially considering that the $2.99/$3.99-per-episode (SD/HD) fee is for a subtitled-only anime that, for a short period, was available ONLY IN AMERICA and can only be accessed/rented/viewed on a PS3 and/or a PSP. Quality of the series aside (thought it was good, but playing devil's advocate), that bolded sentence is something you don't get every single day.
You've now brought up the specifics of the new system, thanks, so it's a fact that there are less / different limitations, but it's not exactly going from hell to heaven on a purely conceptual level either. They don't appear to be removing region blocking, for one.
Neither option seems attractive to me, but I'm not arguing that it won't be attractive for anyone else. I'm just skeptical right now.
Well, I believe I alluded to both of those points. A difference does exist at the moment, as long as they don't try to come up with any rental exclusives of their own (we can't be absolutely certain about that), but creating a somewhat overpriced option D isn't exactly that much better in the long run either if not enough people use this service to begin with. Viewers may still prefer to go elsewhere.
If they don't, then all the better. It's not like I actively want this new enterprise to fail.
Neither option seems attractive to me, but I'm not arguing that it won't be attractive for anyone else. I'm just skeptical right now.
Well, I believe I alluded to both of those points. A difference does exist at the moment, as long as they don't try to come up with any rental exclusives of their own (we can't be absolutely certain about that), but creating a somewhat overpriced option D isn't exactly that much better in the long run either if not enough people use this service to begin with. Viewers may still prefer to go elsewhere.
If they don't, then all the better. It's not like I actively want this new enterprise to fail.
While renting online does seem kind of weird to me since I prefer seeing series on my TV than on my computer screen, I can see some benefits to these YouTube rentals. Seeing the first few episodes free could make people more interested in the series and cause them to either buy the DVD's or rent the rest of the episodes. It does seem like an interesting way for Funimation and Anime Network to get more money from online rentals.
Still, I'm not too interested in renting these episodes considering my preference for DVD's. Streaming episodes online is a good way to advertise a series and Funimation has a nice price of a dollar per episode. I agree that charge two dollars isn't a great move on Anime Network's part since it would wind up costing just as much or maybe even more than a regular series set, depending on the length of the series.
Still, I'm not too interested in renting these episodes considering my preference for DVD's. Streaming episodes online is a good way to advertise a series and Funimation has a nice price of a dollar per episode. I agree that charge two dollars isn't a great move on Anime Network's part since it would wind up costing just as much or maybe even more than a regular series set, depending on the length of the series.