Sony Pictures Television announced that it would acquire a 95% controlling stake in anime importer Funimation for $143 million pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. Sony touted that the deal would allow Funimation to have synergies with its Animax and Kids Station divisions and "direct access to the creative pipeline". The Department of Justice approved the acquisition on August 22, 2017. The deal was closed on October 27, 2017. On September 24, 2019, Sony Pictures Television later announced that it would be consolidating Funimation with Aniplex's Madman Anime Group and Wakanim, under a joint-venture between the two Sony businesses. On December 10, 2019, Sony Pictures Television announced that it would acquire the British studio Silvergate Media—creators of The Octonauts and the Netflix series Hilda, for US$175 million. Sony had shifted to content licensing as a focus instead of owning the channels, which were previously high-margin earners. Subsequently, the Southeast Asia channels group were identified as potential for sale. Sony Pictures Television agreed in January 2020 to sell its Southeast Asian and Korean television channels, the AXN network, Animax and Sony One, to KC Global Media, which owned by former SPT executives Andy Kaplan and George Chien. The sale was completed, with the addition of the Gem channel, in May 2020. On May 14, 2021, SPT sold its UK television channels (including some assets of CSC Media Group) to Narrative Capital. On October 1, 2021, SPT sold its Central and Eastern Europe television channels and two OTT services to Antenna Group. On December 1, 2021, SPT bought a majority stake in the Welsh production company, Bad Wolf. In October 2022, Banijay completed its purchase of Sony Pictures Television Germany, which was renamed Noisy Pictures. Sony Pictures Television networks These are the channels owned and operated and jointly operated by Sony Pictures Television. For channels owned under CSC Media Group, see CSC Media Group. Sony Channel Game Show Network: Launched on December 1, 1994. Culver Max Entertainment: Launched as Set India Private Limited on September 30, 1995. AXN: Launched on June 22, 1997 Animax: Launched on May 20, 1998 Sony Movies: Launched on October 1, 2010. Also operates in the United Kingdom (formerly Movies4Men 2) and Ireland. GetTV: A digital multicast network to air classic films and series by Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, MGM, and CBS Media Ventures that was scheduled to launch in Fall 2013. It was later launched