Over-the-top streaming service
VRV (officially pronounced "verve", though it is also referred to by its letters) was an over-the-top streaming service launched in November 2016 by AT&T and the Chernin Group. Owned by Crunchyroll, run by Sony through a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex, the service bundled together anime, speculative fiction, and gaming-related channels aimed at fans of such content.[1]
Some of VRV's content could be streamed for free, while other content required a subscription. The subscriptions to its channels were available for purchase individually, or in a premium bundle. VRV was available only in the United States, despite some of its partnered content being available for viewing worldwide outside the platform.
In April 2023, it was announced VRV would merge with Crunchyroll, which was completed later that month.[2][3]
History
Ellation, owners of Crunchyroll, formally announced the launch of VRV on June 14, 2016. Its initial partners included Rooster Teeth, Seeso, Nerdist, Geek & Sundry, and Frederator's Cartoon Hangover.[4] On September 29, 2016, Funimation, Adam Savage's Tested, RiffTrax, CollegeHumor, Machinima.com, Ginx TV, Shudder, and Mondo Media were announced as new partners.[5] VRV would officially launch on November 14, 2016.[6]
On August 9, 2017, the VRV Select channel was launched, featuring content from other sources. It was also announced that Machinima, Ginx, and Rifftrax were being dropped from the service.[7] On the same day as VRV Select's announcement, Seeso announced via its Facebook page that it would be shutting down by the end of 2017.[8] Though RiffTrax, Machinima and Seeso's channels were dropped, some of their content, including Seeso's The Cyanide & Happiness Show, HarmonQuest, Hidden America with Jonah Ray, and My Brother, My Brother and Me would migrate to VRV Select.[9]
On November 21, 2017, CuriosityStream and Mubi joined VRV.[10]
On December 12, 2017, DramaFever joined VRV.[11]
On May 3, 2018, it was announced that Tested was being dropped, with its content moving to VRV Select.[12]
On August 28, 2018, VRV launched NickSplat, named after the TeenNick programming block, featuring classic Nickelodeon series from the 1990s and early 2000s.[13]
On October 12, 2018, Shout! Factory's content, such as Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ReBoot, were made available to watch on VRV Select.[14]
On October 18, 2018, Funimation announced that they would be leaving VRV, as their partnership with Crunchyroll ended, and all of their titles would disappear on November 9, 2018. On that same day, VRV announced that HIDIVE would be joining the service to replace Funimation.[15]
On November 1, 2018, HIDIVE was launched on VRV and it was announced that Boomerang would be joining the service on November 13, 2018.[16]
On November 7, 2018, Season 1 of TBS' Final Space was made available to watch on VRV Select.[17]
On the same day, Otter Media announced Mike Tyson Mysteries and Jabberjaw were also going to be added to VRV in 2018.[18][19]
On August 9, 2021, Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony-owned Funimation, making Sony the new owner of VRV.[20][21]
On September 8, 2021, HIDIVE announced that it would be leaving VRV on September 30, 2021.[22] On December 13, 2021, Rooster Teeth left VRV.[23] Cartoon Hangover was also removed at the same time.[24]
On March 1, 2022, it was announced that VRV would be merged into Crunchyroll itself, alongside Funimation and Wakanim.[25] VRV ceased operations on April 29, 2023.[2][3]
