Advertising is growing as an Anime Network revenue stream, adding more support for the first American cable channel devoted to anime. Although acceptance as a linear channel has been slow, Anime Network's video on demand service has done well, and the addition of advertising revenue confirms the channel as a source of anime programming that can influence sales of anime products.
The advertising is running on Anime Network's free on demand programming, which runs on every system that offers Anime Network's video on demand offerings. The free on demand programming serves as a feeder to the subscription or transactional-based video on demand offerings.
Recent sponsors include Sony (for Playstation games), Buena Vista (for its Ghibli films), Schick, and most recently, Paramount, which ran a sponsorship package for Nacho Libre, and in June is running ads for Aeon Flux on VOD.
ADV believes the video on demand programming is a positive influence on DVD sales, according to spokesperson Chris Oarr. 'We've seen that broadcast stimulates demand,' he said, 'and there's no reason to believe that VOD is any different.'
