Event Coverage
MIPCOM 2014: Spark, Astro Malaysia & Moving Visuals join hands to launch Spark Asia
CANNES: Spark, Astro Malaysia and Moving Visuals International (MVI) have signed a joint venture to set-up Asia’s first dedicated HD factual and documentary channel, Spark Asia.
The JV was signed on the first day of MIPCOM 2014.
The channel, which will go live in the first half of 2015, will offer a wide variety of exclusive Asian and global HD content. In addition, Spark Asia will empower the local community of producers and filmmakers by offering an alternative platform to showcase their documentaries and through various training initiatives.
Leveraging on the strengths of its joint venture partners, the new channel will have both linear TV and digital content that will resonate among audiences across Asia. Spark Asia will promote knowledge; celebrate Asian values and traditions and bring Asia to the world in an exciting way. The content will include genres like science & technology, exploration, history, environment, nature and wildlife. The channel will also draw its programming from the vast library of Autentic and ZDF Enterprises.
Asia is the latest launch of the factual entertainment brand Spark, which is also available in Eastern Europe as well as in Africa.
Astro Malaysia CEO Rohana Rozhan said, “As one of Southeast Asia’s leading content and consumer companies, Astro is always exploring new ways to meet the audiences’ changing preferences. With the growing interest in Asian content, there is a huge opportunity in Asian factual content that resonates not only with audiences in Asia but around the world. In line with our strength in the creation of IPs and content brands we believe that the aggregation of Asian-centric stories and factual content in an Asian branded documentary channel is timely and has tremendous potential. This joint venture with like-minded partners enables Astro to take a stake in content that will resonate in Asia and around the world.”
MVI director Galen Yeo added, “As the world’s most populous continent, Asia has long deserved a channel to harness its thriving diversity of culture, history, people and stories. We are pleased to work together with Spark GmbH and Astro on this landmark venture to promote Asian documentary filmmaking, and provide producers a unique platform that will support and promote their work to audiences all across Asia. Spark Asia welcomes opportunities to collaborate and work together with storytellers from around Asia and the world.”
Spark GmbH CEO Patrick Hoerl said, “Being close to our viewers’ lives and hearts has always been at the core of the Spark brand. We can only deliver on that promise, if we team up with the best experts in our business in each region we operate in. It’s hard to think of better partners than Astro and Moving Visuals for a truly Asian channel.”
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.
