After an unprecedented 15 new series launched on AXN thus far this calendar year, the channel is planning to launch five more first-run series in September.
Even though action animation does not feature as one of the four pillars of AXN India‘s programming (movies, series, adventure reality and lifestyle sports), the channel plans to introduce a CGI fantasy series, Excalibur‘, from July this year. Says AXN Asia managing director Todd Miller, "Action animation has a loyal but niche following in India."

A Japanese animated series called Dual is also currently on air on the channel.

AXN, which premiered the acclaimed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon late last year to reasonably good ratings, is planning to bring the TV premiere of the critically appreciated Shadow of the Vampire (starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe) and Time and Tide, as part of its Asian Cinema movie special, later this year. In keeping with its action adventure image, the channel will also telecast the premiere of the ‘The World Stunt Awards‘ on July 26, with Hollywood muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger making a surprise appearance at the ceremony.

While serials like Scariest Places on Earth;‘Guiness World Records: Primetime;The Amazing Race season II; Andromeda; Farscape season III; No Boundaries;CSI Season II; The Agency; Relic Hunter Season II; Queen of Swords; The Outer Limits; Motorworld; Rated X (a new entertainment magazine show) and Eco Challenge continue to hold niche audiences (nearly 40 per cent of the channel‘s viewers in India are women), Miller says Fear Factor too will commence its second season later this year.

When Sony Entertainment announced that it had bought the India cable and satellite cricket telecast rights for the International Cricket Council‘s tournaments until 2007, including the 2003 and 2007 cricket World Cups, from rights distributor Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), it raised quite a few eyebrows. The reason: with a reported $ 255 million price tag, the deal was seen as being a pretty tough one for Sony in terms of returns on investment.
Well the Sony purchase might well be the only deal the GCC has negotiated that has found favour with Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation. Reports are that News Corp has taken full financial control of the ICC rights because "the GCC failed to meet targets set".