ABEMA Launches a Steins;Gate 15th Anniversary Channel
On July 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. JST, ABEMA announced a dedicated Steins;Gate ABEMA Channel as part of its TV-anime 15th anniversary programming. The launch is scheduled for July 11, 2026, and the first block already listed on ABEMA runs from 12:00 to 16:00 JST that day. This is not a new sequel or a remake. It is a limited-time free streaming window built around the original TV series, the theatrical film, Steins;Gate 0, and two special episodes that will be free on ABEMA for the first time.
What Was Announced
The press release positions the channel inside KADOKAWA・ABEMA 周年アニメセレクション, a joint anniversary lineup that uses catalog titles to mark milestone years. The announced programming covers:
- Steins;Gate, all 24 TV episodes
- STEINS;GATE 負荷領域のデジャヴ, the theatrical film
- Steins;Gate 0, all 24 TV episodes
- Special episodes #23(β) and #25, free on ABEMA for the first time
ABEMA also says the streams will remain free for two weeks after each broadcast window, which turns the launch into more than a single live event. It becomes a short catch-up period that viewers can return to after the first airings.
Why It Matters
This kind of announcement matters because access is often what keeps older anime visible. A franchise may already be familiar by name, but a clean official stream window lowers the friction of actually watching it. Here, ABEMA is not selling the channel as a new story beat. It is packaging a milestone catalog run in a way that makes the original series easier to start, rewatch, or recommend.
The other reason it matters is that the channel makes the anniversary concrete. Instead of a vague celebration post, the release gives fans a fixed date, a start time, a lineup, and a free window. That is the kind of detail international readers can actually use when deciding whether to pay attention to a Japanese platform announcement.
Context for International Fans
Steins;Gate remains one of the better-known science-fiction anime properties from the 2010s, but anniversary programming like this shows how Japanese services keep a back catalog active. The point is not just nostalgia. It is discoverability. By combining the original television run, the movie, Steins;Gate 0, and the special episodes into one official schedule, ABEMA is giving the franchise a structured re-entry point.
For fans outside Japan, the important takeaway is simple: this is a fresh official window, not a recycled rumor or a fan-made compilation. Even if the channel itself is a Japan-facing service, the announcement helps clarify how the franchise is being treated in current media planning.
What Happens Next
The first ABEMA block is STEINS;GATE #1〜8【TVアニメ15周年記念】 on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 12:00 to 16:00 JST. The broader channel runs from July 11 through July 16, 2026, and the press release says each broadcast stays free for two weeks afterward. If you want the shortest practical summary, it is this: the anniversary channel is designed as a structured, time-limited way to revisit the series without having to piece together scattered streams.
Sources
Information was checked on 2026-07-09 08:20 JST.
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