Event Coverage
BVITV-AP sign library features package deal with Max
CANNES: Buena Vista International Television – Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) and Sony Entertainment Television’s movies and events channel Max have signed a multi-year agreement for a library features package.
This is the first time that the two parties have entered an agreement. This announcement was made by BVITV-AP senior vice president and managing director Steve Macallister and Max executive vice president and business head Albert Almeida.
These movies will be aired as part of Max’s Hollywood Hungama block, which is currently scheduled on Sundays at 9 pm.
Viewers of Max channel in India will have access to a slate of blockbuster library releases from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films such as Pearl Harbor, Enemy of the State and Gone in 60 Seconds. All titles will be dubbed in Hindi.
“India is a key market for BVITV within Asia Pacific, so we are delighted to be establishing this new relationship with Max. The growth and dynamism of the Indian TV market offers excellent opportunities to deliver the best in US video blockbusters. This first-ever deal with Max clearly demonstrates the growing demand from Indian viewers for great Hollywood content,” said Macallister.
Speaking about the agreement between BVITV–AP and Max, Almeida said, “Hollywood movies have a huge fan following in India, and there is a significant viewership for these films when made relevant to the Indian audiences. We are delighted to be associated with BVITV and with this acquisition we will yet again drive home the fact that Max brings its viewers only the biggest and the best of Hollywood dubbed in Hindi.”
For BVITV-AP, this agreement was negotiated by Amit Malhotra, India head and for Sony Entertainment Television, Sneha Rajani, senior vice president – programming (Max) and acquisitions.
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.
