Event Coverage
American Supergroup concludes pilot, seeking partners at MIPTV
CANNES: Wayne Brothers Entertainment has announced the completion of the successful pilot season for American Supergroup – the original music competition series creating the next big super band. Exec Producers and co-creators of American Supergroup, Gary Wayne Bridges and Kevin Wayne Waldrop, produced five episodes to develop the format and prove the concept. The program aired on Pop, MTV Live and MTV Classic in 4Q16.
Five bands were formed and are currently in discussion with record labels for representation. American Supergroup is present at MIPTV, seeking international distribution and production partners and is a sponsor, for the 2nd year, of the International Format Awards Gala.
Judges for the pilot season included award-winning, multi-platinum musicians, all singer/songwriters: pop/soul artist Aloe Blacc, rock/blues artist Elle King, country superstar Jennifer Nettles and classic rock icon Jason Scheff, lead singer/bass player for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Chicago. iHeartMedia 104.3MYFM’s Dave Styles was the show’s host. Mentors for the bands were legendary guitarist, James Burton, soul singer Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and Tantrums, singer/songwriter Ed Roland of Soul Collective and song writers Jeffrey Steele and Marti Frederiksen; along with Grammy/Emmy/Dove award-winning producer, Shannon Sanders
American Supergroup is a music competition program and format showcasing the creation and evolution of the best new band in the country. Guided by a panel of music experts, 25 finalists are selected to form 5 groups of 5 members each — best guitarist, best drummer, best bass player, best keyboards, and best vocalist. Musical genres can be, but are not limited to, Pop, Rock, R&B, Country, Hard-Rock, and Alternative. Audiences interact with, and vote for, bands via social media platforms.
“American Supergroup has been in development for several years and we are very pleased with our pilot season which brought the concept to life. A short season was produced to prove the format’s viability, which we’ve now done. We are thankful to Pop and Viacom for their support of the program and we were blown away by the amazing talent we discovered in just a short time,” said Bridges.
Waldrop added, “We are also pleased that American Supergroup is sponsoring the International Format Awards at MIPTV in Cannes for another year, demonstrating our support for the Format industry. We are at MIPTV looking for the best global distribution and production partners. Season 2 is now in development and will air in Fall 2017, with a broadcaster to be confirmed in the coming weeks.”
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.
