Crunchy Roll to Host Subbed Anime from Companies

[Ninj4]

I'm working with TV TOKYO to bring you the best anime titles immediately after broadcast! Starting January 8th, we'll have the newest eps of Naruto Shippuden, Shugo Chara, Skip Beat!, and many other titles on CR with english subs for ppl everywhere possible (with some exceptions like Japan).

We're now working with so many great partners like Gonzo, Toei, ADV, Media Blasters, Directions, Udon, Organic, etc...and with their help, we've been able to bring some of the coolest Asian content to you guys. We are also working with even more partners in Japan to get permission to show all the content on the site (which means you can keep enjoying it!) Now with TV TOKYO, we're going to take CR to the next level--they're the largest anime TV station in Japan, they produced Bleach, Cowboy Bebop and premiered Eva (my fav anime of all time~!!)

This isn't any normal announcement, but the beginning of something awesome for Asian entertainment! CR has been growing so much that now so many companies from Japan, Korea, and everywhere are noticing and wanting to work closely with us. We'll be getting content straight from the source, so the quality of everything will be much better, and immediately available from our partners (so we don't need to wait for user uploads!) Plus by watching on CR, we can help support the anime producers so they keep making more great content. All of us at CR have been working really hard to make it happen! I know ppl have questions, and I don't have all the details yet cause we're working them out, but check back for updates!

Crunchyroll's come a long way from my original goal of sharing what I enjoyed so much with my friends. Tons of people have told me how they discovered anime through CR from their friends and can't stop watching it now. This site wouldn't be what it is today without you guys. Your support means a lot to me =D There will be much more good stuff to come in 2009, and I'll work very hard to make CR an even more fun place. I'll keep fighting forever to bring you more asian content more quickly. Long live CR~!! =D

According to another source, http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-17/tv-tokyo-to-also-stream-naruto-through-crunchyroll, Crunchy Roll will allow only paid subscribers to watch the videos during the first week of posting, then release it to the public afterwards.  They will also discontinue user-submitted videos and only allow videos approved by copyright holders.

I believe it'll have an interesting effect on the fansubbing world, but what effect that will be is yet to be determined.  If anything, it will probably affect the watchers themselves more than the fansubbing groups, and another CR-lookalike will rise in its place.

Discuss.