Toku (stylized as TOKU) is a 24-hour and On Demand television network owned by Olympusat dedicated to broadcasting anime and Asian live-action programming.
Formerly known as Funimation Channel, it adopted its current name on December 31, 2015, after Funimation ended their partnership with Olympusat. As such, Toku has not aired any Funimation titles since January 1, 2016. Tristan Leostar is the content aggregator for the Toku network.
Video Toku (TV network)
History
As Funimation Channel
Funimation Channel started out as a syndicated block on Colours TV, one of OlympuSAT's affiliate networks. Programs during this era were Dragon Ball, Negima!, Kodocha, The Slayers, Blue Gender, Kiddy Grade, Fruits Basket, Case Closed and Yu Yu 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). Olympusat was chosen as the exclusive distributor of Funimation Channel. 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 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. 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. 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". In response to reaction from Verizon FiOS TV customers, FiOS TV returned Funimation Channel via Video on Demand. Channel 262 remains on the FiOS system operated by Frontier Communications in some ex-Verizon territories. Cablevision's Optimum TV recently launched 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." It was subsequently announced, on December 15, 2015, that Funimation would end its partnership with Olympusat and relaunch Funimation Channel sometime in 2016.
On March 14, 2016, Olympusat announced a local version of Toku in Latin America, named Toku Español.
On July 2016, the channel began to expand in streaming, when it was announced that the channel was going to be launched in the streaming service FlixFling for early 2017, but to date, that never happened. On June 8, 2017, it is announced that Toku is available on Amazon Channels as a streaming service for members of Amazon Prime, offering channel content on demand for $3.99 per month, after a 7-day free trial.
On August 23, 2017, Consolidated Communications launched the linear channel on its service.
On May 22, 2018, the channel launches the beta version of its new streaming service WatchTOKU.com for the United States and Canada, which includes channel content and future releases, as well as forums. The service, powered by Vimeo, costs either US$3.99 per month or US$39.99 per year. This is Toku's official debut outside the United States, being available for the first time in Canada.
Toku's programming comes from Media Blasters, Tsuburaya Productions, MonoFilm Sales and other anime and movie licensors.
Maps Toku (TV network)
Availability
The linear channel is available on AT&T U-verse, Claro Puerto Rico, Hotwire Communications, Consolidated Communications, Sjobergs Inc., IFiber Communications and OptiLink; its HD feed was launched on September 27, 2010.
The VOD service is available on Optimum, Xfinity, Vubiquity, Frontier FiOS and Armstrong. The VOD service was previously available on Charter Communications and Massilion.
The channel is available in streaming through its WatchToku.com streaming service, as well as its Amazon Prime and Go90 channels.
Programming
Anime series
Current
Upcoming
- Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny
- Genshiken
- Dojin Work
- Kujibiki Heart
Former
Live-action series
Upcoming
- Mirrorman
Anime films
Live-action films
OVAs
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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