Anime Powerhouses Crunchyroll and HIDIVE Unite with 15 Specialty Streamers in New Global Advocacy Alliance

In a significant industry development signaling a united front against evolving digital governance challenges, leading anime streaming giants Crunchyroll and HIDIVE formally joined "Beyond Mainstream: A Global Streaming Alliance" in late 2025. This powerful coalition comprises 15 specialty streaming platforms, including major players like AMC Networks, Acorn TV, ALLBLK, Shudder, Sundance Now, Roku, Tubi, SonyLiv, and Zee5.

The core mission of the alliance is to establish a unified and influential voice for niche content providers in crucial policy debates and regulatory discussions worldwide, striving to cultivate an equitable operating environment for specialized entertainment. Nijel de Mesa, President and CEO of NDM+, underscored the critical nature of this collaboration, emphasizing the alliance's fundamental role in safeguarding a sustainable and robust future for the global streaming ecosystem.

For the anime sector, this partnership represents a pivotal strategic maneuver, allowing Crunchyroll and HIDIVE to collectively tackle pervasive industry hurdles, including robust content protection measures, ensuring fair pricing structures, and enhancing market visibility amidst massive mainstream competitors. It is a vital effort to champion and protect the diverse, specialized programming that forms the backbone of these platforms.

HIDIVE, long recognized for its meticulously curated library catering to specific, often underserved, fan bases, often offering highly anticipated uncensored cuts and premium dubs, is leveraging this alliance to further expand its reach and influence following recent successful simulcast acquisitions ahead of Anime Frontier 2025.

Meanwhile, Crunchyroll, which commands a dominant global position with its expansive library of simulcasts and dubbed content, is solidifying its status not merely as a content distributor but as a major stakeholder actively shaping the regulatory landscape of the worldwide anime market.

Furthermore, this collective action provides a coordinated defense strategy against escalating piracy and unauthorized distribution, aiming squarely at protecting the invaluable specialized content libraries cherished by dedicated fans globally. Ultimately, Beyond Mainstream serves as a crucial mechanism for specialty streamers to maintain their unique identities and commitment to niche audiences while effectively navigating complex global market demands and regulatory pressures, ensuring the longevity and accessibility of diverse anime and specialized content.