Crunchyroll will be honored as Brand of the Year at the inaugural StreamTV Marketers Summit, part of Questex’s StreamTV Show 2026 in Denver.
The award will be presented June 16 and recognizes Crunchyroll’s role in building anime into a mainstream global entertainment category through fandom, community and audience engagement.
The StreamTV Marketers Summit is a new executive-level event focused on marketing strategy across the streaming business. The summit is produced by StreamTV Show in partnership with Social Department.
“Crunchyroll has built one of the most passionate and engaged fan communities anywhere in media,” said Jonathan Verk, the Chair of the StreamTV Marketers Summit and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Social Department.
Verk said Crunchyroll has become an example of how streaming brands can build audience loyalty and extend cultural relevance across multiple marketing channels.
Crunchyroll has grown into one of the most prominent anime streaming brands globally, serving fans through subscription streaming, theatrical distribution, events, merchandise and other consumer touchpoints. Its business has benefited from the rising popularity of anime outside Japan and the growing importance of fan-driven entertainment brands.
“For fans, anime is more than entertainment — it’s a powerful force that shapes emotional expression, identity, lifestyle and worldview,” said Scott Donaton, the Senior Vice President of Brand and Community at Crunchyroll. “We’re honored to accept StreamTV’s Brand of the Year Award and are so grateful to be serving such a passionate global fan community.”
The award comes as streaming services place more focus on fandom and brand identity to attract and retain subscribers in a crowded market. Anime has become a key category for platforms seeking younger, highly engaged audiences who follow content across streaming, social media, live events and consumer products.
The StreamTV Marketers Summit will bring together executives from streaming, entertainment, advertising and technology companies for discussions on audience growth, retention, artificial intelligence, content discovery and brand strategy.
The Desk is an editorial partner of this year’s StreamTV Show. Readers can save 10 percent off a conference pass by using the code DESK10 at this registration page.
