View source for Animax Indian TV channel

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Merge to|Sony YAY!|discuss=Talk:Sony YAY!#Merger proposal|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Animax
| logo = Animaxlogo-20160701.png
| launch_date = {{Start date|df=y|2004|7|4}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-06-01 |title=Animax to launch in India in July |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118984795.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611124214/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118984795.html |archive-date=2014-06-11 |access-date=2014-04-19 |publisher=Asia Image (via [[HighBeam]])}}</ref>
| closed_date = 18 April 2017
| picture_format = [[4:3]] [[576i]] ([[SDTV]])
| network = [[Animax]]
| owner = [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]]
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]<br />[[English language|English]]<br />[[Hindi]] (2004-2006)
| area = [[South Asia]]
| headquarters = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| replaced_by = [[Sony YAY!]]
| website = 
}}

'''Animax''' was an Indian television channel owned by [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]]. It was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by [[Sony Pictures Networks|Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd]]. It aired Hindi dub of anime, but then later switched to English dubs with some subbed anime before switching entirely to subbed anime. It was the only channel in India to simulcast anime on the same day as Japan. It targeted the birthyears {{age|25|2004}} - {{age|15|2004}} and {{age|14|2004}} - {{age|7|2004}} or 7-14 and 15-25 age demographics over its history.

On 18 April 2017, Animax ceased broadcasting in India on regular [[Animax]]. Sony Pictures Networks later made Animax Asia HD available as live channel on its Indian digital platform, Sony LIV.

On 8 May 2020, The Animax Asia HD live channel ceased to be available to watch on Sony LIV.

==History==

Animax began operations across [[India]] and the rest of [[Indian subcontinent]] from 5 July 2004 with [[Irfan Pathan]] as a brand ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Viveat Susan Pinto |date=6 July 2004 |title=Irfan to bowl for Sony's Animax |url=http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/9392_Irfan-to-bowl-for-Sonys-Animax |access-date=24 December 2015 |website=Afaqs news bureau |publisher=afaqs}}</ref> 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|English]] language audio tracks.<ref name="Business line">{{Cite web |title=Animax plans to go Hindi soon |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/11/27/stories/2004112702210400.htm |access-date=2009-04-20 |publisher=thehindubusinessline}}</ref>

From 15 August 2006, Animax entirely shut down its [[Hindi language|Hindi]] feed but kept its English one, since it changed its target audience to the ages 15–24 group.<ref name=".Indian television">{{Cite web |title=Animax goes all English from 15 August |date=14 August 2006 |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/aug/aug153.htm |access-date=2009-04-20 |publisher=indiantelevision}}</ref>

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 (2004 film)|Hellboy]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2007 |title=Animax India in overhaul, infuses live action content |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k7/june/june385.php |access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

On 1 January 2008, Animax South Asia merged with Animax Asia's but had separate feed for india. Animax India rebranded its logo along with [[Singapore]] on 4 May 2010. Animax became the first channel to simulcast [[List of Tears to Tiara episodes|Tears to Tiara]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax-Asia To Simulcast Tears to Tiara (Updated) |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-17/animax-asia-to-simulcast-tears-to-tiara |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref>on April 6th, 2009, 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax India's official website for Scare Tactics |url=http://www.animaxindia.com/shows/scare-tactics |access-date=4 March 2011 |publisher=Animax India}}</ref> Animax also simulcasted the yearly [[Spike Video Game Awards|Video Game Awards]] hosted by [[Spike (TV channel)|Spike TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax India's official website for Video Game Awards |url=http://www.animaxindia.com/shows/vga |access-date=5 March 2011 |publisher=Animax India}}</ref> 

With the premiere of [[Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan]], Animax stopped dubbing anime and started airing them in Japanese audio with English subtitles instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax India's official website for Nurarihyon No Mago |url=http://www.animaxindia.com/shows/nurarihyon-no-mago |access-date=4 March 2011 |publisher=Animax India}}</ref> However, Animax continued to dub a few anime shows like the second season of [[List of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya episodes#2009 version|The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax India's official website for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 |url=http://www.animaxindia.com/shows/haruhi2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421233447/http://animaxindia.com/shows/haruhi2 |archive-date=21 April 2011 |access-date=1 April 2011 |publisher=Animax India}}</ref> Animax continued to simulcast all the shows aired on AXN, its sister channel. The Shows [[Ghost Adventures]], [[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]] and [[Fear Itself (TV series)|Fear Itself]] were originally aired on [[AXN India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AXN India's Official page for Ghost Adventures |url=http://www.axn-india.com/shows/ghost-adventures-0 |access-date=26 March 2011 |publisher=[[AXN India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AXN India's official page for Fear Itself |url=http://www.axn-india.com/shows/fear-itself |access-date=26 March 2011 |publisher=[[AXN India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AXN India's Official Page for Chuck 3 |url=http://www.axn-india.com/shows/chuck/season/3 |access-date=26 March 2011 |publisher=[[AXN India]]}}</ref> In 2012, the channel stopped airing such shows and reverted to its old logo, focusing only on anime. Moreover, all DTH providers in India delisted Animax as the channel couldn't pay carriage fees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why was Animax removed? |url=http://www.kmap.in/#/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901164626/http://www.kmap.in/#/ |archive-date=1 September 2014 |access-date=20 March 2013 |publisher=Animax the Resistance}}</ref> Animax made its way back into the DTH networks in 2016 with its addition on [[Tata Sky]] at LCN 686.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax on Tata Sky |url=http://www.tatasky.com/wps/wcm/connect/TataSky_Beta_ContentLibrary/Channels/Hindi%20Movies?srv=cmpnt&source=library&cmpntname=TataSky_Beta_Desing_Library/MENU_SpecialPacks/Menu_AddOnPack_Kids |publisher=Tata Sky}}</ref> 
[[File:Animax.svg|thumb|180px|Animax's logo as seen before 2010.|alt=]]
Animax ceased broadcasting in India on regular television on 18 April 2017. Sony Pictures Networks has made Animax Asia HD available as live channel on its Indian digital platform, [[Sony LIV]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonyliv.com/details/live/5495190673001/Animax-HD---LIVE-CHANNEL |title=Sony LIV |website=www.sonyliv.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714165549/http://www.sonyliv.com/details/live/5495190673001/Animax-HD---LIVE-CHANNEL |archive-date=2017-07-14}} </ref>

On 7 Jan 2020, KC Global Media acquired the Animax Asia channels, however, the Indian channels were not included in the sale, thus separating them from the other Animax channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2020 |title=Sony Pictures Sells Asia Channels to Former Executives Andy Kaplan and George Chien (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/sony-asia-channels-andy-kaplan-george-chien-axn-animax-1203459864/ |access-date=23 November 2020}}</ref>

On 8 May 2020, The Animax India HD live channel ceased to be available to watch on Sony LIV.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animax Asia Channel Removed from 'Sony LIV' Streaming App |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-17/animax-asia-channel-removed-from-sony-liv-streaming-app/.159617 |access-date=2021-07-21 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref>

===Animax Kool Kidz===
[[File:Animax3.png|thumb|180px|Animax's logo between 2010 and 2013.|alt=]]
An Animax branded Hindi feed block "Animax Kool Kidz" was launched on [[Sony Entertainment Television]] from 5 December 2004 in order to introduce the Anime content to a larger audience. This block featured shows like [[Astro Boy (2003 TV series)|Astro Boy]], [[Cyborg 009]], [[Daigunder]], [[Fancy Lala]], [[Princess Comet]], [[Princess Sarah]], [[Princess Tutu]], [[Tales of Little Women]] and [[UFO Baby]].<ref name="Animax">{{Cite web |date=4 December 2004 |title=Animax now on Sony Entertainment Television |url=http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/10396_Animax-now-on-Sony-Entertainment-Television |access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Animax]]
* [[Animax Asia]]
* [[Animax (South Korean TV channel)|Animax Korea]]
* [[List of anime distributed in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.animax-asia.com/ Animax Official Website (Asia)]

{{Animax}}
{{Sony Pictures}}
{{Sony Corp}}

[[Category:Television stations in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Children's television channels in India]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Television]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in India]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in India]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Networks India]]
[[Category:Anime in India]]