Event Coverage
TF1 licenses new US networks series from BVITV
MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has licensed the eagerly-anticipated new US network drama series Lost and Grey’s Anatomy to commercial broadcaster TF1 in France. This was announced today by BVITV vice president, sales EMEA Alison Homewood and TF1 head of acquisitions Laurent Storch.
The one hour action-thriller series Lost explores the darker side of human nature when a group of survivors of a plane crash are stranded together on a remote, hostile desert island. As the strangers work together to create order in their makeshift community, and to stay alive, there are darker, dangerous forces at work around them. The series has been written by J J Abrams (creator of TV’s Alias) and Damon Lindelof (Crossing Jordan). Lost features a large international cast, starring Matthew Fox and Dominic Monaghan.
The one hour mid-season drama Grey’s Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo in a series following young interns and their colleagues in a tough surgical training program at a Seattle hospital. As the interns cope with the challenges of their professional lives, and the complications of their personal lives, they only have each other to rely on to get through.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lost will air on TF1. Lost is currently airing on the ABC Television Network and Grey’s Anatomy is to air mid-season on ABC.
For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by Florent Gaignault, vice president, sales, French-speaking Europe.
Homewood commented, “We’re delighted that our new network dramas are creating such a buzz amongst international broadcasters. To be selling these two series at this early stage, in such key territories, bodes well for the wider international launch of the series here at MIPCOM.”
Laurent Storch said, “The pilots of Lost and Grey’s Anatomy are very exciting and TF1 is eager to offer both series to the French viewers. We are very glad this deal once more shows the great relationship we entertain with our long time partner BVITV.”
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.
