In 2023, Variety described Mainichi Broadcasting System’s (MBS) distribution agreement with Sentai Filmworks as the latter’s “biggest-ever deal for anime content,” granting its streaming service, HIDIVE, exclusive rights to stream select titles outside of Asia. In Anime Corner’s new interview with HIDIVE President John Ledford, he added that the deal is “dynamic by design,” starting with future exclusives, and leaving the room open for much more:
Q: While the MBS deal emphasized exclusive rights to future series, what’s the potential for it to expand in other ways, e.g., to non-exclusive simulcasts, future seasons of MBS series that first debuted on other platforms, and past titles?
Ledford: The MBS partnership is dynamic by design. While it began with future exclusive titles, we’re exploring broader opportunities…legacy titles, sequel rights, and potentially even co-productions. We’re also discussing how we can give earlier MBS hits a second life on HIDIVE through remastered re-releases, curated marathons, and value-added features for fans who want more than just a replay…they want an experience.
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Ledford added that the titles it acquires from MBS are ones that they align on from both a “creative and strategic” standpoint, adding, “We want to focus on MBS titles where HIDIVE’s attention and platform can truly elevate the global launch.“
You can get Ledford’s thoughts on today’s streaming climate; the approach to licensing titles; HIDIVE’s ambitions; why the company and several other streamers, including Crunchyroll, have formed a specialty streamer advocacy alliance; and much more, in Anime Corner’s HIDIVE interview.
HIDIVE’s deal with MBS has to date brought From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!, I Parry Everything!, Otaku Elf, My Instant Death Ability Is Overpowered, and The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: from Villainess to Savior to the platform.
Featured image © Project FT/Dusk Beyond the End of the World・MBS
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