Event Coverage
Disney India eyes acquisition of 10 TV series at Mipcom
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company (India) Pvt. Ltd. has big plans for Mipcom, the television trade event, this year! The company is looking to buy atleast eight to 10 television shows for its three channels in India which include Disney Channel, Jetix and Hungama TV.
The company is already in negotiation with licensors from across the globe (namely Canada and Japan) and will use Mipcom as a platform to close these deals.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Walt Disney Television International (India) director production and programming Aparna Bhosle says, “Throughout the year we shortlist content from across regions and have zeroed in on the specific programmes. We will be going to Mipcom to close these deals and conclude the legalities involved, as well as meet our licensors. We will buy atleast eight to 10 shows for our three channels.”
“In some cases, we will also block shows even before production is complete, so two to three years hence we can purchase those properties.”
When queried about the financial negotiations that are a part of the procedural acquisition process, Bhosle says that the cost of acquisition is in the range of $600 to $2500 for every half hour of a property. The rates of a show largely depend on the performance and popularity of the property, its newness and quality of animation. Disney is looking buy rights to television shows for a duration of five years rather than three.
Some exhibitors that Disney is in talks with include Nelvana, 4Kids Entertainment and Asastu DK among others.
“All three kids channels from our network depend heavily on acquired content. 80 per cent of content on Hungama TV is acquired, while 40 per cent and 20 per cent of programmes on Jetix and Disney Channel are bought. However, we are looking to up the amount of acquired shows on the Disney Channel,” adds Bhosle.
This move, to up acquired content on the Disney Channel marks a significant shift in its programming strategy. Earlier the channel was pushing a host of locally produced shows like Vicky Aur Vetaal, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo and Art Attack.
The Disney Channel is also now considering introducing tween focused anime content, which is a move away from its previous tween live action thrust.
“For the Disney Channel we will be eyeing tween focused anime and live action shows, while the focus for Jetix, will be to replenish action adventure series and comedy anime for Hungama TV,” adds Bhosle.
Apart from TV series, Disney is also willing to explore the movie catalogues of exhibitors like Fox and Sony, even though the company already has its own bank of films.
More importantly, Disney‘s agenda at Mipcom is clearly outlined. The programming heads from across the globe will assemble at Cannes five days before Mipcom kicks off to meet and interact with the various licensors. In some cases, even multi – territory deals will be struck that may include worldwide rights or specific to the Asia Pacific region.
Mipcom will be held from 8-12 October 2007 in Cannes, France.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
