Crunchyroll Ends Free Ad-Supported Simulcast Streaming
Crunchyroll has announced that it will no longer offer free, ad-supported streaming for new episodes. Before the change, Crunchyroll would allow users who didn't have a subscription or an account to watch simulcast titles for free. The only catch was that users would have to wait for a week after the episode's original release for it to be available for free. However, the platform is changing the way it operates.
As per the latest update, viewers who want to watch new or ongoing series episodes will have to upgrade to one of Crunchyroll's premium plans, which start at $7.99 / month. The news comes as a blow to fans who have used the service for free for years. The decision also raises questions about the platform's future since we do not know if Crunchyroll will decide to hide more content behind a subscription.
Crunchyroll Stops Ad-Supported Streaming; Offers "Seasonal Samplers"
Crunchyroll has announced a new deal for fans instead of the ad-supported streaming service they provided earlier. The platform will now be offering initial episodes of select titles as part of a "seasonal sampler" for free viewing for a limited time. The first three episodes of these "select shows" will be available for free, one week after their premiere, until May 31st. However, fans will require a subscription after the end date to check out these episodes.
Crunchyroll also says all users can still watch episodes previously added to the platform for free. The shows selected for "seasonal samples" for Spring 2022 include:
- Spy x Family
- A Couple of Cuckoos
- Dawn of the Witch
- Tomodachi Game
- Skeleton Knight in Another World
- Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie
- The Greatest Demon Lord is Reborn as a Typical Nobody
- Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs
It remains unclear whether Crunchyroll will continue to offer seasonal samplers beyond spring 2022. It's also unknown when the episodes from this season's lineup will become available for free viewing. For more information about the update, fans can check out Crunchyroll's help section.
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