Event Coverage
Canal licenses two drama series on pay TV from BVITV
MUMBAI: Canal, the French broadcaster has lincensed the new US network drama series Desperate Housewives and Kevin Hill on pay TV from Buena Vista International Television (BVITV).
The announcement was made by BVITV, vice-president and sales of EMEA, Alison Homewood and Canal Group head of acquisitions Nathalie at MIPCOM.
Homewood said: “New dramas like ‘Desperate Housewives‘ and ‘Kevin Hill‘ have attracted international attention right from their launch at the LA Screenings this year, so we are delighted to be announcing their sale in France, where the quality of the writing, production and cast is sure to appeal to a wide range of viewers.”
Desperate Housewives, drama starring Teri Hatcher is a one hour drama will be the dark, comedic Desperate Housewives, a witty, dark look at suburbia, the series follows the truth behind the apparent domestic bliss of a group of wives, narrated through the eyes of Mary Alice, a deceased former resident of their upmarket suburb. From her unique vantage point, Mary Alice can now uncover the real secrets behind the closed doors of her friends and family, states the official release.
The creator and executive producer of Desperate Housewives is Marc Cherry and Michael Edelstein and Tom Spezialy are co-executive producers. Charles Pratt Jr. is consulting producer.
Kevin Hill is a drama starring Taye Diggs stars as a young attorney who gives up his playboy lifestyle to raise his ten-month old niece after his cousin dies unexpectedly. Landing a new job at a small, female driven law firm, Kevin slowly adjusts to being an instant Dad. The series is a production of Touchstone Television in association with Icon Productions. Bruce Davey and Alex Taub are executive producers and Jorge A. Reyes is co-executive producer and writer.
Both series have recently begun airing in the US, Desperate Housewives on the ABC Television Network and ‘Kevin Hill‘ on UPN. For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by vice president, sales, French-speaking Europe Florent Gaignault, informs the company release.
Drouaire added: “In keeping with its policy of acquiring exclusive, innovative and creative series, Canal is extremely proud to announce two soon-to-be aired new series : the touching “Kevin Hill” and “Desperate Housewives” a drama which very original writing and terrific cast make for an inspired tale of suburbia “faux” bliss you are not about to forget!”
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.
