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Bandai Entertainment Halting Video/ Manga Distribution in America

Topic started by Dream on Jan. 2, 2012. Last post by ZombiePie 4 months, 2 weeks ago.
Post by Dream (3,382 posts) See mini bio Level 19
Not exactly the best news to start off the new year on.
 
Long story short, Bandai will be halting future distribution of new DVD and manga releases next month while any titles still in print will continue to be released for as long as Bandai holds licensing rights to said titles. This has resulted in plans for several anime and manga title releases to get axed as pointed out in the article I have linked to.
Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by Destinyheroknight (7,422 posts) See mini bio Level 20

Man, that suck

Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by The_Desert_Tiger (1,105 posts) See mini bio Level 13

That's really unfortunate.

Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by Bigheart711 (2,419 posts) See mini bio Level 20

Well, that's messed up. :(

Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by ShadowKnight508 (5,036 posts) See mini bio Level 17
Moderator

Now that really makes a bad start for 2012 for fans of the franchises that Bandai has distribution rights to in America.

Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by sickVisionz (3,057 posts) See mini bio Level 24
Moderator

Even though the writing was on the wall for a while now with their releases that seemed to be all over the place and experimental, it's still sad to see them exit the new releases part of the industry.

Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Post by ZombiePie (842 posts) See mini bio Level 15

The update to this news story isn't just that North American distribution has been halted but that Bandai Entertainment has completely gone under.

Well... so much for all three of the people patiently waiting for a North American release of Turn A Gundam!

Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by buhssuht (165 posts) See mini bio Level 19

can't really blame them, since they're victims of piracy

Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by Dream (3,382 posts) See mini bio Level 19
@ZombiePie: Not completely under. The company will still be holding licensing, streaming and broadcasting rights to its titles. The company is just exiting the distribution side of the anime industry here in the states.
Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by ZombiePie (842 posts) See mini bio Level 15

@Dream said:

@ZombiePie: Not completely under. The company will still be holding licensing, streaming and broadcasting rights to its titles. The company is just exiting the distribution side of the anime industry here in the states.

Which means the anime distribution industry in North America is now an oligopoly.

Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by Dream (3,382 posts) See mini bio Level 19
@ZombiePie: Counting the number of leftover distributors:
  1. Funimation
  2. Sentai Filmworks
  3. Media Blasters
  4. NIS America
  5. Rightstuf
  6. Aniplex
  7. Viz Media

Still a bit more diverse than choices you would have locally with anything like Internet or TV services.

Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by ZombiePie (842 posts) See mini bio Level 15
@Dream said:
@ZombiePie: Counting the number of leftover distributors:
  1. Funimation
  2. Sentai Filmworks
  3. Media Blasters
  4. NIS America
  5. Rightstuf
  6. Aniplex
  7. Viz Media

Still a bit more diverse than choices you would have locally with anything like Internet or TV services.

The number of names suggests monopolistic competition (which is still not that great for consumers) but without any hard numbers about how much of the market each of those distributors owns it's hard to tell. I would hazard a guess however that two or three of those names comprise of over 50% of the distribution market in North America. 
Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by sickVisionz (3,057 posts) See mini bio Level 24
Moderator

@ZombiePie said:

Which means the anime distribution industry in North America is now an oligopoly.

You give them too much credit suggesting that they were keeping it from being an oligopoly. Funi and Viz run the market share game and whenever Disney decides to release a Miyazaki movie they give #1 a run for their money with that single release.

It's not all bad though. The US market is in such a rush to bottom when it comes to pricing that nobody can really abuse power in a way that negatively effects the pockets of consumers.

Edited 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Post by ZombiePie (842 posts) See mini bio Level 15

@sickVisionz said:

@ZombiePie said:

Which means the anime distribution industry in North America is now an oligopoly.

You give them too much credit suggesting that they were keeping it from being an oligopoly. Funi and Viz run the market share game and whenever Disney decides to release a Miyazaki movie they give #1 a run for their money with that single release.

It's not all bad though. The US market is in such a rush to bottom when it comes to pricing that nobody can really abuse power in a way that negatively effects the pockets of consumers.

Having time to re-examine my comments has led me to realize they are a hyperbole. The distribution of anime is like most media in North America in that it has always been oligopolic.

Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
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