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AstroNerdBoy
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 335
Location: Denver, CO
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 Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:29 pm |
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| VEGANDARAE wrote: | i feel like waging mass genocide of fansub sources
if only i could code viruses i could destroy fansubs altogether,
but i don't want to go to jail so i will probably take legal course of action. |
And yet that wouldn't stop the problems with the current anime market, but far be it from me to destroy your fantasy. Meanwhile, when I come by your house, I better see a legit copy of every anime ever licensed and released in R1 that you personally purchased or else I know you don't really support anime in the U.S.
There needs to be consolidation in the R1 anime market. FUNimation could absorb some companies, increase its library, and have more inventory for its own channel. If the FUNimation Channel could be made stronger, then you could make it easier to get on other outlets, thus getting more viewers, thus gaining more revenue. Other R1 companies need to recognize the 2 anime markets out there and encourage "hardcore" fans to buy with the subtitled versions of their releases (as FUNimation mostly does).
Finally, R1 companies need to start their own version of fansubs (which would likely be streaming, but could be done). One could pay a 1-time price to see the anime episode once (or for a day), or could pay a subscription to see it as many times as they wanted. Later, the R1 company could opt for a full release or a subtitle-only release for those wanting DVD's.
Ultimately, R1 companies need to find more ways to gain revenue than solely DVD sales. The first way is more anime on TV. A second way could be the company-produced fansubs to be shown a week or so after the episode airs in Japan. |
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
Joined: 05 Jan 2002
Posts: 4298
Location: Death Star Cocktail Lounge
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:36 pm |
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| This article isn't about fansubs and neither will this thread be. |
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CCSYueh
Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 1913
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:39 pm |
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In most businesses I've worked in staff to be laid off are offered positions elsewhere (It's how I moved from phones to clerical).
This maybe sounds like another route-where staff are "laid off" as in no longer getting benefits, but are hired back as "independant contracters" so the company doesn't have to pay out as much. My old phone job went that route-the other gals were laid off from my employer, but immediately hired as private contractors so they had to get their own medical coverage. They were even paid a buck more an hour (yeah, that covers medical benefits, doesn't it?)
And it sounds a bit like double-talk |
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tempest
ANN Editor in Chief
Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 7058
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:40 pm |
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| Vesca wrote: | This article sounds like ADV is covering their butt before one of their disgruntled 13 starts running their mouth.  |
Something like that. Private companies don't normally publicize layoffs, and ADV wouldn't have mentioned it earlier had I not put them on the spot.
People (who shall remain nameless), informed me that there had been layoffs at ADV. The rumors that were coming in had some truth to them, and some BS. First version had people I still deal with today as having been part of the layoffs, and the number of employees laid off about 50% higher than what we reported.
Once I had at least 2 independent sources that confirmed at least part of the story, I called ADV, and they really had no choice but to confirm the true parts of the story. It works to their advantage because the rumors are squashed, and they get to try to insert some spin into the whole thing by pointing out that they also hired people at the same time (something my sources didn't know or mention to me).
I was he's hesitant to even post the article because I knew some people would point to the sky and say that it's falling, but my belief is that it's best to report all the news and ignore the naysayers...
To call the anime industry "booming" would be very inaccurate to suggest that's it's about to implode would be just as inaccurate.
-t
Last edited by tempest on Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Calculusman
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 306
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:52 pm |
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| xstylus wrote: | ADV is laying off 13, but hiring others elsewhere. Okay, that doesn't strike me as a significant "cost cutting" measure indicative of doom and gloom, but more of a realignment of strategy. One strategy wasn't working, so they're cutting it and shifting resources to strategies that are. This is normal everyday business. I think the Geneon flameout has made us all paranoid.
My sympathies to the 13 who were laid off.
| Xanas wrote: | Can you afford 10/10ths? If you could only afford 1/10th I don't see the problem.
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[sigh] Well I do, but trying to get people like you to see reason is a waste of breath, so I won't even bother. |
That's what I was thinking. It doesn't sound as bad as the layoff makes it. And the economy hasn't been all that great all around, and there isn't much of a reason to assume that the anime industry would be affected any differently.
As far as how much anime I own. I may own..15 to 20% that I've watched (I'm guessing, I'd have to go back and count) but probably 80% to 90% of what I've watched I rented through various online places, so I'm still at least somewhat positively affecting the anime market. |
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Vesca
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Location: A really big US state
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:03 pm |
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| tempest wrote: | To call the anime industry "booming" would be very inaccurate to suggest that's it's about to implode would be just as inaccurate.
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No, I wouldn't think it's about to implode, but in today's unnanounced recession it's the entertainment industry that goes first, those little extras that can be let go as a person attempts to pay for their food and healthcare over their anime.
But let's see here... layoffs in 2005, Monetary helps in 2006, layoffs again in 2007... You cannot consider ADV to be stable at this point based on a history like this; and if teh number one anime comany isn't stable, how bad are the others doing and not saying? |
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ikillchicken
 Subscriber
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 2513
Location: Vancouver - Go Canucks Go!
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:18 pm |
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| Vesca wrote: | | But let's see here... layoffs in 2005, Monetary helps in 2006, layoffs again in 2007... You cannot consider ADV to be stable at this point based on a history like this; and if teh number one anime comany isn't stable, how bad are the others doing and not saying? |
Yeah, you can. Companies lay people off. It happens. Is it a good sign? No. Does it mean the company is in trouble? No. |
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molloaggie
Joined: 30 Jun 2003
Posts: 577
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:27 pm |
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| ikillchicken wrote: | | Vesca wrote: | | But let's see here... layoffs in 2005, Monetary helps in 2006, layoffs again in 2007... You cannot consider ADV to be stable at this point based on a history like this; and if teh number one anime comany isn't stable, how bad are the others doing and not saying? |
Yeah, you can. Companies lay people off. It happens. Is it a good sign? No. Does it mean the company is in trouble? No. |
Maybe you are right. On the surface, a few lay-offs can do a business good. I will be looking to the near future and listening for any other problems or lay-offs that occur. This will give us a clue as to the financial stability of ADV and the market as a whole. Funi is now stepping into the same mess with their television channel that ADV is sloshing through right now. If ADV is in financial straights, then we can expect Funi to have the same possible problems. |
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Vesca
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Location: A really big US state
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:33 pm |
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| ikillchicken wrote: | | Vesca wrote: | | But let's see here... layoffs in 2005, Monetary helps in 2006, layoffs again in 2007... You cannot consider ADV to be stable at this point based on a history like this; and if teh number one anime comany isn't stable, how bad are the others doing and not saying? |
Yeah, you can. Companies lay people off. It happens. Is it a good sign? No. Does it mean the company is in trouble? No. |
Hmmm.. I don't know what your idea of a stable company is, but in my mind, it's not one that has to experience layoffs every two years. I wonder what would have happened in 2006 if ADV hadn't teamed up with Sojitz.. hmm.. more layoffs, maybe?
This smells of bad decisions. A company that has to continuously cut its staff is not a stable company making good decisions, even if they are 'still hiring'. Please note that they didn't say how many people they had hired to oppose the 13 they let go.
As I understand, ADV isn't that big of a company when you look at people employed. 13 could be a tenth of their staff, possibly more. |
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molloaggie
Joined: 30 Jun 2003
Posts: 577
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:36 pm |
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| Vesca wrote: |
Hmmm.. I don't know what your idea of a stable company is, but in my mind, it's not one that has to experience layoffs every two years. I wonder what would have happened in 2006 if ADV hadn't teamed up with Sojitz.. hmm.. more layoffs, maybe?
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Can we assume from these layoffs that ADV is no longer teamed with Sojitz? Has their backer pulled out? |
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Vesca
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Location: A really big US state
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:44 pm |
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| molloaggie wrote: | | Vesca wrote: |
Hmmm.. I don't know what your idea of a stable company is, but in my mind, it's not one that has to experience layoffs every two years. I wonder what would have happened in 2006 if ADV hadn't teamed up with Sojitz.. hmm.. more layoffs, maybe?
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Can we assume from these layoffs that ADV is no longer teamed with Sojitz? Has their backer pulled out? |
*shrug* I haven't seen ANN post anything like that, but then it seems they had to pull teeth to get this tidbit out of ADV so who knows what's really going. I'm sure they're just like any company where they've got a humongous base of people watching their actions. They want everyone to think that everything's fine and dandy.
I'm not falling for it... |
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Heretic
Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 175
Location: Laurel, Maryland
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:49 pm |
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OH NO! It's yet another sign of the coming apocalypse! 
In all seriousness, this does not sound bad (aside from these 13 individuals losing their jobs). People need to chill out. |
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The Ramblin' Wreck
Joined: 07 Apr 2003
Posts: 909
Location: Teaching Robot Women How To Love
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:58 pm |
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| Vesca wrote: | | tempest wrote: | To call the anime industry "booming" would be very inaccurate to suggest that's it's about to implode would be just as inaccurate.
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No, I wouldn't think it's about to implode, but in today's unnanounced recession it's the entertainment industry that goes first, those little extras that can be let go as a person attempts to pay for their food and healthcare over their anime.
But let's see here... layoffs in 2005, Monetary helps in 2006, layoffs again in 2007... You cannot consider ADV to be stable at this point based on a history like this; and if teh number one anime comany isn't stable, how bad are the others doing and not saying? |
Record stock markets and 22 consecutive quarters of growth, I'm digging this "unannounced recession". |
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kokuryu
Joined: 07 Apr 2007
Posts: 910
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:59 pm |
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| AstroNerdBoy wrote: |
Finally, R1 companies need to start their own version of fansubs (which would likely be streaming, but could be done). One could pay a 1-time price to see the anime episode once (or for a day), or could pay a subscription to see it as many times as they wanted. Later, the R1 company could opt for a full release or a subtitle-only release for those wanting DVD's. |
Um, they already do. Many of the fansub groups out there are actually the US or Japanese companies in disguise, or one of the financial backers that supports the anime showing in Japan. don't think that fansubs are all done by pirates - far from it.
As far as ADV's layoffs, it sounds like they are shifting gears to act more heavily in the pure digital arena. ADV has been very good about seeing where the future lies for them, so they are on track to be one of the leaders in the new emerging DDL, VOD and MOD markets.
Of course, my sympathies to those that actually had to be laid off - the current economy in the US is really shot, so I know it hurts... |
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DuelLadyS
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 1146
Location: WA state
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:22 pm |
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Here's what I see- let's pretend anime DVDs/companies are like hair. Geneon shaved its head- they could let it grow back, but for now, there's nothing there. ADV got a trim to support a new style- there's still plenty of hair, it's just getting parted differently now.
We can't have a booming anime market forever, but the ADV 'company tweaks' are not of the same ilk as the Geneon situation. Nothing to get your hair scrunchies in a bunch about. |
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