Jump to content

Toku (TV network)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Angel135 (talk | contribs) at 20:38, 18 September 2018 (→‎Live-action series). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Toku
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersWest Palm Beach, Florida
Ownership
OwnerOlympusat
ParentOlympusat, Inc.

Toku (stylized as TOKU) is a 24-hour and On Demand television network owned by Olympusat dedicated to broadcasting anime and Asian live-action programming.[2]

Formerly known as Funimation Channel, it adopted its current name on December 31, 2015, after Funimation ended their partnership with Olympusat. As such, Toku has not aired any Funimation titles since January 1, 2016. Tristan Leostar is the content aggregator for the Toku network.

History

As Funimation Channel

Logo as Funimation Channel

Funimation Channel started out as a syndicated block on Colours TV, one of OlympuSAT’s affiliate networks.[3] Programs during this era were Dragon Ball, Negima!, Kodocha, The Slayers, Blue Gender, Kiddy Grade, Fruits Basket, Case Closed and Yu Yu Hakusho. The block was later discontinued in favor for a more successful expansion on digital cable, fiber optics and DBS systems

On May 1, 2008, Funimation Channel became a 24-hour English-dubbed anime digital cable network; the second of its kind in North America (following A.D. Vision's Anime Network).[4] Olympusat was chosen as the exclusive distributor of Funimation Channel.[5] The service originally was available to a few cities via UHF digital signals and was temporary as the channel was trying to gain a foothold in the already crowded digital cable landscape.

In May 2009, Funimation Channel continued its expansion on cable launching on Comcast's VOD platform [6] and offering two services - Free On Demand and PPV On Demand. The PPV VOD offers viewers a chance to watch titles prior to their DVD release.[7] Movies and packaged specials are available at $2.99 each while episodes are available at $.99 each.

As of September 27, 2010, a High Definition feed was launched alongside existing VOD services.[8] On February 16, 2012, Verizon announced that it will drop Funimation Channel and Bridges TV from its Verizon FiOS service "on, or after March 15" due to "very low viewership".[9] In response to reaction from Verizon FiOS TV customers, FiOS TV returned Funimation Channel via Video on Demand.[10] Channel 262 remains on the FiOS system operated by Frontier Communications in some ex-Verizon territories.[11] Cablevision's Optimum TV recently launched[12] FUNimation Channel On Demand in the NY/NJ/CT Tri-State area. Adding this MSO increased FUNimation Channel's footprint to over 40 million households nationwide.

Funimation Channel's programming came from Funimation, Viz Media, Nozomi Entertainment and the now-defunct Central Park Media and Enoki Films USA.

As Toku

On December 8, 2015, it was reported that the channel would change its name to Toku on Thursday, December 31, 2015 and "will add more variety including highly-rated Asian movies in the Live Action, Grindhouse and Independent genres."[13][14] It was subsequently announced, on December 15, 2015, that Funimation would end its partnership with Olympusat and relaunch Funimation Channel sometime in 2016.[15]

On March 14, 2016, Olympusat announced a local version of Toku in Latin America, named Toku Español.[16]

On July 2016, the channel began to expand in streaming, when it was announced that the channel was going to be launched in the streaming service FlixFling for early 2017, but to date, that never happened.[17] On June 8, 2017, it is announced that Toku is available on Amazon Channels as a streaming service for members of Amazon Prime, offering channel content on demand for $3.99 per month, after a 7-day free trial.[18][19]

On August 23, 2017, Consolidated Communications launched the linear channel on its service.[20]

On May 22, 2018, the channel launches the beta version of its new streaming service WatchTOKU.com for the United States and Canada, which includes channel content and future releases, as well as forums. The service, powered by Vimeo, costs either US$3.99 per month or US$39.99 per year. This is Toku's official debut outside the United States, being available for the first time in Canada. [21]

Toku's programming comes from Media Blasters, Tsuburaya Productions, MonoFilm Sales and other anime and movie licensors.

Availability

The linear channel is available on AT&T U-verse,[22][23] Claro Puerto Rico, Hotwire Communications, Consolidated Communications, Sjobergs Inc., IFiber Communications and OptiLink; its HD feed was launched on September 27, 2010.[24]

The VOD service is available on Optimum,[25] Xfinity, Vubiquity, Frontier FiOS and Armstrong. [26] The VOD service was previously available on Charter Communications and Massilion.[27]

The channel is available in streaming through its WatchToku.com streaming service, as well as its Amazon Prime and Go90 channels.

Programming

Anime series

Current

Upcoming

Former

Live-action series

Upcoming

Anime films

Live-action films

OVAs

References

  1. ^ Olympusat, Inc. Owns & Operates FUNimation Channel
  2. ^ "TV Listings & Channel Guide | AT&T U-verse". Uverse.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "Navarres Funimation Entertainment Doubles Anime Programming for Syndicated Anime Block". RedOrbit. September 7, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "Funimation Entertainment Announces the launch of the Funimation Channel in Seattle". Mania. December 20, 2006. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Navarre's Funimation Entertainment and Verizon Sign Distribution Agreement". Navarre. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Funimation Anime on Demand Now on Comcast Nationwide". Anime News Network. May 5, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  7. ^ "PR Newswire". Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "Funimation Channel Goes High-Definition". Anime News Network. September 7, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  9. ^ "Verizon Drops Funimation Channel from FiOS Service". February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "Olympusat's FUNimation Channel Now Available on Verizon FiOS TV Video on Demand". Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  11. ^ Frontier FiOS TV channel lineup
  12. ^ "Olympusat's FUNimation Channel Launches SVOD Package On Optimum TV". Prweb.com. December 21, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  13. ^ "FUNimation Channel Changing Its Name". The Fandom Post. December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  14. ^ "Guides & Types of Programming". Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  15. ^ "Funimation Channel to Relaunch in 2016". Anime News Network. December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  16. ^ "Toku en español: Nuevo canal llega a Latinoamérica". ANMTV. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "Flixfling Partners with Olympusat to Launch Its First Ever Lineup of Premium Spanish-Language Channels". Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  18. ^ "TOKU IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR AMAZON PRIME MEMBERS". Olympusat Inc. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  19. ^ "TOKU Opens Streaming Channel on Amazon Prime". Anime News Network. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  20. ^ "OLYMPUSAT'S TOKU LAUNCHES ON CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS". Olympusat Inc. September 8, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  21. ^ "TOKU Airs Ultraman Mebius Spinoffs, Launches Streaming Website Beta". Anime News Network. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  22. ^ "Operators". Funimation Channel. October 7, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  23. ^ "Choice Cable TV" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  24. ^ "Funimation Channel Launches on AT&T-U Verse in High-Definition". Anime News Network. September 30, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  25. ^ "Under Maintenance". Optimum.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  26. ^ "Armstrong Cable - Funimation Channel". Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  27. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toku_(TV_network)&oldid=860174603"