Image source: Press release — via Anime News Network
Crunchyroll announcedon Wednesday that it is collaborating with the automotive apps distribution platform Appning by FORVIA to enable its service to stream in select vehicles in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, India, and Australia. The collaboration will launch on BMW and MINIvehicles, then will expand across BMW Group vehicles and over 40 automotive brands.
According to FORVIA, when using other similar video streaming apps such as YouTube,"For safety, video playback is disabled while driving but fully accessible when parked." Their technical guidelines forbid any "distracting content," including video and pop-ups, in the front seat while the car is moving.
Crunchyroll increased the prices for all of its subscription tiers in the U.S. last February. The company increased the Fan Tier price from US$7.99 to US$9.99, the Mega Fan Tier price from US$11.99 to US$13.99 per month and the Ultimate Fan Tier from US$15.99to US$17.99 per month.
The Fan Tier has no advertisements, and all new simulcast episodes are available to users as they premiere. The Mega Fan Tier includes all features from the Fan Tier. In addition, this tier enables offline viewing and access to four streams at once. Members also get a 10% discount off select products and free shipping fororders over US$50 on the Crunchyroll Store. The Ultimate Fan Tier includes everything fromthe Fan Tier. It also features offline viewing and access to six streams at once. Memberscan get a 15% discount off select products and free shipping on the Crunchyroll Store. Inaddition, members receive an annual Ultimate Fan member swag bag and access to exclusivemember-only merchandise.
Crunchyroll halted free ad-supported streaming on its service last December.
Crunchyroll is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan's Aniplex. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex's Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) parent are both in turn subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Sony's Funimation Global Group completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T on August 9, 2021, after the company first announced the acquisition in December 2020. The purchase price was US$1.175 billion, and the proceedswere paid in cash at closing. Funimation's home video releases are now listed under Crunchyroll.
Update: Added some guidelines based on other streaming apps for FORVIA. Source: FORVIA
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