Event Coverage
Disney Latin America signs multiple deals at Mipcom
MUMBAI: Disney Media Networks Latin America (DMNLA) has inked several deals at Mipcom, including a pan-regional version of The Amazing Race and an expanded alliance with Terra TV.
As per the expansion of coalition, Terra – the Latin American internet giant – will begin offering DMNLA content on Terra TV, cell phones and social networks across the region from next year.
The expanded partnership includes catch-up rights to a slate of content, which will be available free of charge for seven days following the TV broadcast. The deal covers the fifth and sixth seasons of Lost, the fifth seasons of Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy and the eighth season of Scrubs.
“This new deal is the result of a successful partnership and will bring much more content for the Internet user in Latin America,” said Terra Latin America president Fernando Madeira. “Terra will offer an innovative format to Latin America’s users allowing the online advertising leverage revenues in the region.”
The new programming on Terra TV for 2009 will include the fourth seasons of Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy. While series like Amazing Race (seasons 10, 11 and 12), Samantha Who?, Six Degrees, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty and Dirt will be shown for the first time on Terra TV in 2009. Terra will also bolster the Disney-branded content on Planeta Disney section with the second seasons of Hannah Montana, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Other teen and kids fare on Terra will include Disney’s Phineas and Ferb and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody, American Dragon: Jake Long, Disney’s Little Einsteins, The Emperor’s New School and Kim Possible.
The new alliance between the two companies also covers films like The Incredibles, High School Musical 2, Princess Diaries 2, Cheetah Girls, The Sixth Sense and Flight Plan.
“One of our key strategies is to expand, support and simplify the consumer’s access to our content, embracing new technologies that help us create and distribute our programming through all platforms,” said The Walt Disney Company Latin America and DMNLA president Diego Lerner.
DMNLA also announced a deal with Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic for a pan-regional The Amazing Race. The local version will air on Discovery Channel across Latin America, featuring contestants from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela, among other markets. Pre production begins in January for a late 2009 premiere.
“I believe there is no better media outlet in Latin America to showcase the highly anticipated customised production of Amazing Race,” said DMNLA senior VP Fernando Barbosa. “We are happy to join forces with Discovery Networks on this particular journey and I trust this will be the first season of many to come. Without a doubt, it will capture Latin American audiences across the board.”
DMNLA will also take on responsibility for distributing the Disney catalogue to the US Hispanic market. This covers Disney-branded fare; content from ABC Studios; feature films from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films and Disney-Pixar; titles from Patagonik and Miravista; reality formats; and made-for-TV movies.
“The US Hispanic market is growing at a rapid rate and networks and independent stations are increasingly in need of quality original programming and feature films specifically tailored for their viewers,” said Disney-ABC Domestic Television president Janice Marinelli. “We are happy to partner with Disney Media Networks Latin America as their expertise with Spanish-language programming will play a key role in expanding this business.”
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.
