Over-the-top streaming service
VRV (officially pronounced "verve", though it is also referred to by its letters) is an over-the-top streaming service launched in November 2016. Owned by Crunchyroll, run by Sony through a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex, the service bundles together anime, speculative fiction and gaming related channels[1] and the service targets these large fandoms.
Some of VRV's content can be streamed for free, while other content requires a subscription. The subscriptions to its channels can be purchased individually, or in a premium bundle. VRV is available only in the United States, despite some of its partnered content being available for viewing worldwide outside the platform.
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.[2]
On September 29, 2016, Funimation, Adam Savage's Tested, RiffTrax, CollegeHumor, Machinima.com, Ginx TV, Shudder, and Mondo Media were announced as new partners.[3] VRV would officially launch on November 14, 2016.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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.
On November 21, 2017, CuriosityStream and Mubi joined VRV.[7]
On December 12, 2017, DramaFever joined VRV.[8]
On May 3, 2018, it was announced that Tested was being dropped, with its content moving to VRV Select.[9]
On August 28, 2018, VRV launched NickSplat, named after the TeenNick programming block, featuring classic Nickelodeon series from the 1990s and early 2000s.[10]
On October 12, 2018, Shout! Factory's content, such as Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ReBoot, were made available to watch on VRV Select.[11]
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.[12]
On November 1, 2018, HIDIVE was launched on VRV and it was announced that Boomerang would be joining the service on November 13, 2018.[13]
On November 7, 2018, Season 1 of TBS' Final Space was made available to watch on VRV Select[14]
On November 8, 2018, Otter Media announced Mike Tyson Mysteries and Jabberjaw as upcoming programs for VRV that were going to be added in 2018.[15][16] However, both series never actually came to the service. Mike Tyson Mysteries was eventually added to Hulu in 2020 and Tubi in 2022, while Jabberjaw has yet to appear on a streaming service.
On August 9, 2021, Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony-owned Funimation, making Sony the new owner of VRV.[17][18]
On September 8, 2021, HIDIVE announced that it would be leaving VRV on September 30, 2021.[19]
On November 18, 2021, it was announced via email to subscribers that Rooster Teeth would be leaving VRV on December 13, 2021.[20] Cartoon Hangover was also removed at the same time.[21]
As of February 2022, the only remaining channels are Crunchyroll, Mondo, and VRV Select.
On March 1, 2022, it was announced that VRV would be merged into Crunchyroll itself, alongside Funimation and Wakanim.[22]
