MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Network India’s first kids channel Animax will go off air soon. The network, which launched the channel in 2004, had been targeting the 13-35 age-group, and niche anime lovers.

The channel was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) India. It is also the only channel to simulcast anime in India and Japan.

The network will close the channel but the content will be available on its OTT platform SonyLiv.

Sony Pictures Network India CEO N P Singh said, “Animax has been around for a long period of time. Anime is popular with a very small segment of the audience. We will take away Animax, and instead will give them the opportunity to view Anime on SonyLiv.”

The network has announced the launch of its much-awaited kid’s entertainment channel, Sony Yay! that will go live on 18 April 2017. Promising to be the ‘Destination for Unlimited Happiness’ for kids, the channel has roped in the young cinestar, Tiger Shroff, who has become a phenomenon with kids across the country, as its brand ambassador.