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(Bloomberg) – AT-T Inc. will sell Crunchyroll, its anime video unit, for up to $1.5 billion, according to others close to the matter, taking on the communications conglomerate’s efforts and means to dispose of non-essential assets and raise cash.

Americans asked not to be known to talk about personal deliberations. The possible sale of Crunchyroll was reported the previous Wednesday through Information, which named Sony Corp. as an interested buyer. A representative of the company’s Sony Pictures unit declined to comment.

Under Kilar, AT-T focuses its online media strategy HBO Max, its broadcast service of $15 a month. The purpose is to make HBO Max a direct rival of Netflix Inc.

Crunchyroll was one of the first acquisitions made through Otter Media, a video streaming association formed in 2014 between AT-T and Chernin Group. The original acquired value is not revealed.

AT&T has sold billions in assets in the past year including its Puerto Rico wireless business, data centers and its Hudson Yards New York offices, in an effort to raise cash and pay down debt.

(Updates with Sony Pictures reaction in paragraph).

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