Crunchyroll Implements Akamai to Enhance Its Dynamic Digital Content Experience for Customers

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leader in powering rich media, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, today announced that Crunchyroll, an online video service and community, has implemented Akamai’s Media Delivery solution to improve the quality of its video delivery to users worldwide. Akamai will deliver Crunchyroll’s online video content including select titles offered in High Definition (HD) streaming.

Akamai has been pioneering HD video streaming on the Internet for years. Recent trends suggest that content owners are quickly seizing the opportunity to bring HD content online. According to recent research conducted by Akamai, global publishers and content owners now see the value derived from delivering online video content in the highest quality possible, which includes longer viewing times, more repeat visitors and the ability to attract premium advertisers.

Offering full-length episodes of Japanese anime and other Asian movies, it’s critical for Crunchyroll to provide the highest online security available to protect the content holders of both simulcast and non-simulcast titles. Crunchyroll has implemented Akamai License Delivery, an integrated service for securing, delivering and monetizing valuable audio and video content across PCs and portable devices. This Akamai solution is designed to enable content owners to protect their content while making it available for e-commerce with a wide variety of consumer payment models.

With Akamai License Delivery, content owners encode media files, determine the proper distribution method, and assign rights to each file. Before consumers can play content, they’re transported to the content owner’s website for authentication, registration or payment. Akamai then verifies the request, generates a license and speeds it from the content owner’s Web server to the consumer – who can now decrypt and play the file with all rights in place.

"Crunchyroll’s distribution channel and partnership program deliver content to over five million online community members worldwide,” said Crunchyroll’s CEO Kun Gao. "This partnership with Akamai enables us to deliver a higher quality and a better digital experience for all of our global visitors, in support of both our general users and Crunchyroll’s Anime Members. In addition, it provides the utmost in online security to protect the content of our partners from illegal downloading and distribution. Fans can enjoy content, delivery speed and quality while License Holders can trust that Crunchyroll will protect the rights of their online content.”

"We look forward to working closely with Crunchyroll to bring its fans a higher quality of digital experience,” said Tim Napoleon, Chief Strategist, Digital Media at Akamai. "We believe that the use of online video is growing rapidly and that companies need to be prepared to handle the influx of traffic on their sites. Crunchyroll’s website is incredibly dynamic – from thousands of videos to interactive games to user forums. Akamai’s vast experience working with companies similar to Crunchyroll to serve up video quickly and reliably, regardless of where the user is coming from, has allowed us to address Crunchyroll’s business needs and enable them to offer a superior end user experience.”

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is an online video service and community that offers full-length episodes and movies of the very best in Japanese anime and Asian entertainment. Crunchyroll's content is provided by Asian media leaders including TV TOKYO, Shueisha, d-rights, Fuji Creative Corporation, Pony Canyon, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Toei Animation, Gonzo, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation America and many others. Crunchyroll was founded in June 2006 and has offices in both San Francisco and Tokyo. Crunchyroll is a pioneer and innovator within the Japanese anime industry and the only video service in the world to offer hit programs like NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, GINTAMA and many others online to its subscribers within one hour of its Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) and the Licensing International Merchandisers Association (LIMA) and is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock. More information can be found at its website http://www.crunchyroll.com.

About Akamai

Akamai® provides market-leading managed services for powering rich media, dynamic transactions, and enterprise applications online. Having pioneered the content delivery market one decade ago, Akamai's services have been adopted by the world's most recognized brands across diverse industries. The alternative to centralized Web infrastructure, Akamai's global network of tens of thousands of distributed servers provides the scale, reliability, insight and performance for businesses to succeed online. Akamai has transformed the Internet into a more viable place to inform, entertain, interact, and collaborate. To experience The Akamai Difference, please visit www.akamai.com.

Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

The release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the effects of any attempts to intentionally disrupt our services or network by hackers or others, failure to have available sufficient transmission capacity, termination of Akamai’s relationship with Crunchyroll, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, and other factors that are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.