Event Coverage
SABC licenses new network series from BVITV
MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has concluded a new agreement with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for the free television licensing of new and returning live action series, and hit features. This was announced today by BVITV vice president, sales EMEA Alison Homewood at MIPCOM.
With this agreement, South African viewers of SABC1 will be able to see the brand new drama series Kevin Hill, which has recently begun airing on the television network UPN in the US.
The show stars Taye Diggs (Ally McBeal) as a young lawyer enjoying a glamorous, self-centred life, until a tragedy in the family means he has to take guardianship of his infant cousin. Kevin has to quickly rethink his priorities in life as he learns to cope with, and enjoy, this new responsibility. The series is executive produced by Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey and Alex Taub. It is written by Jorge Reyes, and produced by Touchstone Television and Icon Productions.
In addition, SABC has licensed another series (season five) of the multi award-winning family comedy series My Wife and Kids starring Damon Wayans, which has been a number one rated show in South Africa, and a huge hit internationally, and season three of the kids comedy series That’s So Raven, both for broadcast on SABC1.
The channel SABC3 will continue to broadcast the two time Emmy-winning reality show The Amazing Race (licensing its sixth season), where 11 teams of two people battle each other in a gruelling race around the world. At each destination, the teams compete in a series of tasks, some mental and some physical, before learning their next destination.
Features in the package will include the acclaimed titles 10 Things I Hate About You, with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, High Fidelity, based on the Nick Hornby novel and starring John Cusack, and the cult dark comedy Rushmore, with Bill Murray.
SABC have also licensed the powerful drama The Joy Luck Club, adapted from the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, and the poignant comedy-drama The Straight Story, based on the actual journey of 73-year old Alvin Straight. Straight, upon learning that his estranged brother had suffered a stroke, decided to travel hundreds of miles to see him the only way he could – on an old John Deere lawnmower.
For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by Maria Bayman, executive director of sales, strategic markets and Kerry Henchy, sales executive, strategic markets.
Homewood said, “This agreement will give SABC’s viewers a great choice of entertainment, from the newest network series like Kevin Hill, to classic Hollywood films. We’re particularly pleased to see returning shows such as My Wife and Kids and The Amazing Race continuing their success on SABC’s channels.”
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.
