Toku (TV network)

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Toku
Launched September 29, 2005
(as Funimation Channel)
December 31, 2015
(as Toku)
Closed December 31, 2015
(as Funimation Channel)
Owned by Olympusat
Slogan Be Reanimated
Country United States
Broadcast area United States
Headquarters West Palm Beach, Florida
Formerly called Funimation Channel (2005-2015)
Branding licensed from Funimation[1]
Website http://www.tokuhd.com
Availability
Cable
Available on most cable systems Check local listings for details
IPTV
AT&T U-verse Channel 1484 (HD)

TOKU is a 24-hour cable network owned by Olympusat which broadcasts anime series, OVAs, ONAs and anime films from Media Blasters[2] and various other North American anime licensors in the United States. Formally known as Funimation Channel, it adopted its current name on December 31, 2015, after Funimation ended their partnership with Olympusat.

Toku is currently available on AT&T U-verse and Frontier FiOS.[3][4] The network launched its HD feed on September 27, 2010.[5]

As Funimation Channel, the network premiered such titles as Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos and Okami-san on its VOD service.[6] The subscription video on-demand service for Funimation Channel was available on Optimum,[7] Charter Communications,[8] and Armstrong Cable.[9]

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.[10] Programs during this era were Dragon Ball, Negima!, Kodocha, The Slayers, Blue Gender, Kiddy Grade, Fruits Basket, Case Closed and YuYu 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).[11] Olympusat was chosen as the exclusive distributor of Funimation Channel.[12]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 [13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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".[16] In response to reaction from Verizon FiOS TV customers, FiOS TV returned Funimation Channel via Video on Demand.[17] Channel 262 remains on the FiOS system operated by Frontier Communications in some ex-Verizon territories.[18] Cablevision's Optimum TV recently launched[19] 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.".[20][21] It was subsequently announced, on December 15, 2015, that Funimation would end its partnership with Olympusat and relaunch Funimation Channel sometime in 2016. [22]

Programming

Anime series

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Anime films

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Live-action films

OVAs

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References

  1. ↑ Olympusat, Inc. Owns & Operates FUNimation Channel
  2. ↑ http://uverse.com/guide
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://optimum.com/digital-cable-tv/on-demand/premium-channels/
  8. ↑ http://blog.funimation.com/2011/01/funimation-channel-on-charter/
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Frontier FiOS TV channel lineup
  19. ↑ http://www.prweb.com/releases/OptimumTV/FUNimation/prweb10263317.htm
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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