Event Coverage
Distraction to launch CBC game show at Mipcom
MUMBAI: TV format distributor Distraction Formats will launch CBC‘s gameshow The Next Great Leader at Mipcom.
The television trade event takes place in Cannes, France from 8-12 October 2007.
CBC executive director factual entertainment Julie Bristow says, ‘The CBC, in partnership with Magna International, is thrilled to be launching this exciting new format at Mipcom. This entertaining political game show was a big hit with Canadian viewers.
” The launch of The Next Great Leader also marks the start of an exclusive relationship with Distraction Formats. We are delighted to announce that Distraction, known worldwide for their expertise in marketing television formats, will represent CBC‘s Factual Entertainment formats internationally.”
The Next Great Leader is a high stake, political debate competition format for young men or women who are ready to share the ideas for making their country a better, stronger and more prosperous place.
18-25 year olds are invited to submit a three-to-five-minute video taped speech with their ‘Leadership Message‘. A panel of judges select 25 of the best applicants from over 500 submissions where four finalists are eventually selected to participate in the televised one-hour finale special.
Tensions run high as the four contestants are quizzed by an esteemed panel of four former national leaders. The stakes are high – with a cash prize of $50,000, a coveted Magna-Dominion-Fulbright six month internship and the prestigious title of The Next Great Leader, this top reality game show provides its audiences with an extraordinary unique insight into politics and former world leaders.
Distraction CEO Michel Rodrigue says, “I am thrilled to be representing CBC with the launch of this top format and I am very much looking forward to this new relationship. I am highly confident that the coming months will be just as fruitful for Distraction and our new partner‘.
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.
