Event Coverage
Hungary and Belgium get ready to Boom!
MUMBAI: Keshet International has sold its explosive gameshow formatBOOM! to TV2 in Hungary, and VTM, the top Flemish speaking channel in Belgium owned by parent company MEDIALAAN.TV2 plans to launch a local adaptation of the thrilling gameshow later this year.
This news marks the fourth and fifth sales of the format since its launch at MIPTV, following Spain (Atresmedia), the US (FOX) and France (TF1).
BOOM! fuses the drama, intensity and thrill of a blockbuster action movie with the high octane fun of a video game. Full of comedy, color and excitement – BOOM!’s fresh approach rolls the intellectual AND physical challenges of existing gameshows into one must-see event for viewers of all ages. A squad of four players must defuse eight (replica) bombs by answering trivia questions correctly within a strict time limit. In nail-biting scenes, the nominated player must defuse one bomb per question by cutting through colored wires which represent multiple choice answers against the clock. If the player answers correctly the prize money remains intact and they move to the next bomb, if they cut the wrong wire, or run out of time the bomb will explode strewing material across the studio andvisiblyshaking the set – and the team will lose one player and 25% of the potential prize money. BOOM! delivers fierce tension and light-hearted humor in quick succession,extending the experience not only to those in the studio, but also viewers at home who can play along.
“BOOM! is igniting all over the world, and we are thrilled to partner with our longtime friends at TV2 and VTM to bring our show to Hungary and Belgium,” said Keshet International CEO Alon Shtruzman.
“We are pleased to have once again picked up the most talked-about format of the market from Keshet International. With the success of Master Class and Rising Star now in pre-production, BOOM! will be the third Keshet format that TV2 will adapt and we are very happy to bring this innovative project to audiences in Hungary,” said György Bence, Program and News Director, TV2.
BOOM! achieved outstanding ratings when it made its debut on Keshet Broadcasting, Channel 2 Israel following its launch on Thursday April 3 at 9 PM, becomingthe highest-rated game show launch ever in Israel. Vastly outshining all other shows in its timeslot, BOOM!scored a staggering 41.2% share and 26.7% (HH) rating.
The ratings and share equate to an increase of four times the amount drawn by the nearest competitor for the time slot, doing exceptionally well in the younger demographic of 18 – 24 years with a share 27.5% higher than the average.
BOOM! is now the most viewed game show ever in Israel both in terms of ratings and number of viewers, outperforming other favorites such as Million Pound Drop and Raid the Cage. It has also garnered the highest audience share ever for a game show airing on a week night. The show’s rating was 14% above the average share for the time slot on Channel 2.
BOOM! was created by Keshet, Ido Rozenblum and July August Productions.
Season two of TV2’s Master Class, also an adaptation of a Keshet International format, will launch on the network later this month following a tremendously successful first season debut.
Visit the Keshet International stand R8.C9, Riviera 8, Palais Des Festivals,at MIPTV 7 – 10 April 2014
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.
