Animax (Indian TV channel)

Animax was an Indian televison channel Sony Pictures Entertainment. It was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. It was also the first animation channel that targets the age 15–25 demographic and was the only channel in India to simulcast anime in the same week and on the same day as Japan.

Animax
Launched4 July 2004 (2004-07-04) [1]
Closed18 April 2017 (2017-04-18)
NetworkAnimax
Owned bySony Pictures Entertainment
Picture format576i (SDTV)
SloganANIMAX daisuki! (I Love Animax!)
CountryIndia
LanguageJapanese
English
Hindi (2004-2006)
Broadcast areaSouth Asia
HeadquartersMumbai, India
Replaced bySony Yay
Sister channel(s)AXN India
Sony TV
SAB TV
Sony Pal
Sony MAX
Sony MAX 2
Sony Aath
Sony Wah
Sony PIX
Sony MIX
Sony ROX
Sony LIV
Sony SIX
Sony ESPN
Sony Le PLEX
Sony BBC Earth
TEN 1
TEN 2
TEN 3
Ten Golf

Animax ceased broadcasting in India on regular television and was replaced by Sony Yay on 18 April 2017. Animax Asia HD is now available in India only on Sony LIV digital platform.[2]

History

Animax began operations across India and the rest of Indian Subcontinent from 5 July 2004 with Irfan Pathan as a brand ambassador.[3] This channel was a part of Japanese media conglomerate Sony. It was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. It was also the first animation channel that targets the age 15–25 demographic and was the only channel in India to simulcast anime in the same week and on the same day as Japan. Animax India started with 12 hours Hindi feed that targeted young kids and teens ages 7–14 and it had planned to launch Hindi and English language audio tracks[4] .

From 15 August 2006, Animax entirely shut down its Hindi feed and kept its English one, since it changed its target audience to the ages 15–24 group.[5]

In 2007 started airing live-action content like TV shows Tech Max, Game Max, Animax Press Play, Imagination and Speak Out and movies like Spider-Man 2, Kung Fu Hustle and Hellboy.[6]

On 1 January 2008, Animax South Asia merged with Animax Asia's programming feed, including all of its exclusive premieres. Animax India rebranded its logo along with Singapore on 4 May 2010. Animax became the first channel to simulcast the ultra popular series, Supernatural.[7] Continuing with the sci-fi shows, Animax aired Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for the first time in entire Asia.[8] Animax also aired Korean entertainment shows like Live Power Music, Pretty Boys & Girls and Comedy Boot Camp in Korean audio with English subtitles. Animax added American reality shows to their list with the premiere of Scare Tactics.[9] Animax also simulcasts the yearly Video Game Awards hosted by Spike TV.[10]

With the premiere of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Animax stopped dubbing anime and started airing them in Japanese audio with English subtitles.[11] However, Animax continued to dub a few anime shows like the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.[12] Animax continued to simulcast all the shows aired on AXN, its sister channel. The Shows Ghost Adventures, Chuck and Fear Itself were originally aired on AXN India.[13][14][15] In 2012, the channel stopped airing such shows and reverted to its old logo, and focused only on anime. Moreover, all DTH providers in India delisted Animax as the channel couldn't pay carriage fees.[16] Animax made its way back into the DTH networks in 2016 with its addition on Tata Sky at LCN 686.[17]

Animax's logo as seen before 2010.

Animax ceased broadcasting in India on regular television and was replaced by Sony Yay on 18 April 2017. Sony Pictures Networks has made Animax Asia HD available as live channel on its Indian digital platform, Sony LIV.[18]

On 8 May 2020, The Animax Asia HD live channel ceased to be available to watch on Sony LIV, likely due to the acquisition of Animax in Vietnam by KC Global Media.

Animax Kool Kidz
Animax's logo between 2010-2013.

An Animax branded Hindi feed block "Animax Kool Kidz" was launched on Sony Entertainment Television from December 5, 2004 in order to introduce the Anime content to a larger audience. This block featured shows like Astro Boy, Cyborg 009, Daigunder, Fancy Lala, Princess Comet, Princess Sarah, Princess Tutu, Tales of Little Women and UFO Baby.[19]

Programming
Main article: List of programs broadcast by Animax
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See also

References
  1. "Animax to launch in India in July". Asia Image (via HighBeam). 1 June 2004. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  2. http://www.sonyliv.com/details/live/5495190673001/Animax-HD---LIVE-CHANNEL
  3. Viveat Susan Pinto (6 July 2004). "Irfan to bowl for Sony's Animax". Afaqs news bureau. afaqs. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. "Animax plans to go Hindi soon". thehindubusinessline. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  5. "Animax goes all English from 15 August". indiantelevision. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  6. "Animax India in overhaul, infuses live action content". 27 June 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. "Animax India's official website for Supernatural". Animax India. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  8. "Animax India's official website for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". Animax India. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  9. "Animax India's official website for Scare Tactics". Animax India. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  10. "Animax India's official website for Video Game Awards". Animax India. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  11. "Animax India's official website for Nurarihyon No Mago". Animax India. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  12. "Animax India's official website for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2". Animax India. Archived from the original on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  13. "AXN India's Official page for Ghost Adventures". AXN India. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  14. "AXN India's official page for Fear Itself". AXN India. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  15. "AXN India's Official Page for Chuck 3". AXN India. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  16. "Why was Animax removed?". Animax the Resistance. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2013.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  17. "Animax on Tata Sky". Tata Sky.
  18. http://www.sonyliv.com/details/live/5495190673001/Animax-HD---LIVE-CHANNEL
  19. "Animax now on Sony Entertainment Television". 4 December 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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