Event Coverage
BVITV-AP announces agreement between TVNZ & ABC News
MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television – Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has concluded a multi-year licensing agreement with free-to-air government broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ) for special access to ABC News programming at MIPCOM.
The announcement was made by BVITV-AP vice president and general manager Steve Macallister and TVNZ head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston and ABC News senior vice president/general manager Bernard Gershon.
This unique arrangement will allow TVNZ to cooperate with ABC News on breaking news stories, to draw on the production facilities at the ABC News bureau in Washington, D.C. and to access the latest ABC News services and features ensuring that TVNZ provides up to the minute news on world events to the people of New Zealand, informs an official release.
The multi-year agreement will also include the full range of award winning ABC News programming including 20/20, Nightline, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Primetime Live, Good Morning America, and World News Now.
“The partnership with ABC not only strengthens TVNZ’s international coverage but it gives TVNZ the chance to considerably expand its news and current affairs output nationally,” said Bill Ralston. “We are delighted and excited to have the opportunity to work so closely with one of the world’s top broadcasters.”
“The ABC News portfolio offers broadcasters a constantly updated resource of live, in-depth, quality news and interviews with some of the most sought after individuals on the planet,” commented Macallister. “Viewers in New Zealand will now have immediate access to the full range of ABC’s enviable news programming. We are incredibly pleased about our new partnership with TVNZ News.”
“We are delighted to be working with TVNZ, its commitment to international news is recognized worldwide. Strong journalistic relationships with world class broadcasters like the BBC, NHK Japan, ARD Germany, and now TVNZ, expand the global reach of ABC News and enhance our coverage of global events,” said Gershon.
For BVITV-AP the agreement was negotiated by director of sales, Australia and New Zealand, Greg Johnson adds the release.
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.
