Event Coverage
M-Met to air drama series under license from BVITV
MUMBAI: The viewers across South Africa will be able to enjoy the US drama series including Desperate Housewives, Lost, Life As We Know It, Alias and The Days, through a pay TV.
The agreement between M-Net and Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), as announced by BVITV, vice-president and sales EMEA, Alison Homewood and M-Net director Jan du Plessis, at the ongoing MIPCOM.
The agreement includes some returning series for M-Net – season two of the comedy ‘Hope & Faith‘, season three of reality series ‘Extreme Makeover‘ and comedy ‘Less Than Perfect‘, and season four of quirky medical comedy ‘Scrubs.‘
For BVITV, the agreement was negotiated by executive director, strategic markets, Maria Bayman, executive director, strategic markets and sales executive, strategic markets, Kerry Henchy, informs the official release.
Homewood commented: “We‘re sure that this agreement will add some new hits to M-Net‘s schedule of primetime drama and comedy – shows such as ‘Alias‘ and ‘Scrubs‘ are proven worldwide successes and new series like ‘Desperate Housewives‘ have been creating a buzz in the international TV market since their first previews earlier this year. “
Jan du Plessis added: “M-Net is thrilled to be able to broadcast these top-quality productions in prime-time slots. We are convinced that the new shows will be a winning recipe and that our viewers will be delighted to find some of the old favourites back on the box. This agreement cements M-Net‘s position as the channel that brings South African pay television viewers the best and hottest new shows available,” as stated in the official statement.
Lost, Desperate Housewives and Life As We Know It‘ have recently begun airing in the US on the ABC Television Network.
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.
