AT&T is reportedly building an anime-and-video-games streaming network

Telecom companies getting into content services has been a bit of a trend in recent years (see Verizon's Go90 and T-Mobile's Binge On), and AT&T is apparently no exception. According to a report from Variety, the company is planning to bundle together a clutch of streaming channels into a single subscription service. Newly registered domain names suggests the platform will be called Vrv, and Variety claims it will target "viewers interested in anime, video games, niche action sports, and other fare off the beaten path."

AT&T certainly has enough content to fill such a service. Vrv is reportedly being developed by Ellation, a subsidiary of a company named Otter Media, which is itself a joint venture between the AT&T and The Chernin Group. Otter Media has a number of stakes in digital media firms, including YouTube network Fullscreen (which works with various channels and YouTube personalities including Grace Helbig, Unbox Therapy, and SSSniperWolf). Otter Media also owns other sites outright, including Crunchyroll (a subscription-based anime service) and Creativebug (a craft-focused video tutorial site).

Variety reports that Vrv will combine content from Crunchyroll with other unknown channels run by outside partners, with the resulting service sold as either a full bundle or a more customizable package. However, there are still a lot of unknowns about the project, including exact pricing, details on what other content will be included, and platform availability. Variety claims that Vrv could be unveiled as soon as this month, with a full launch scheduled for later this year.

• SourceVariety