HIDIVE and MBS Sign Multi-Year Exclusive Anime Streaming Deal, License Nia Liston

HIDIVE and Mainichi Broadcasting System have expanded their partnership into a multi-year exclusive output agreement - the largest content programming deal in HIDIVE's history. The first title under the expanded arrangement is Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden, premiering in October 2026.

Scope of the Deal

The agreement, brokered through AMC Global Media's Sentai Filmworks label, grants HIDIVE exclusive simulcast rights to MBS anime productions across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and additional markets outside Asia. The partnership originally launched in March 2023 and has already brought titles such as My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha, I Parry Everything, The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen, and HELL MODE to the platform.

HIDIVE President John Ledford stated that the expansive multi-year agreement reinforces HIDIVE's standing as a leading anime distributor globally. MBS Director Mihoko Shibata noted that the partnership has significantly expanded the global reach of MBS animation over three years.

Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden

The inaugural title under the expanded deal is Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden, an adaptation of Umikaze Minamino's light novel series originally published on Shosetsuka ni Naro between 2019 and 2021. Hobby Japan currently publishes the novels with illustrations by Jishaku and Katana Canata, and a manga adaptation by Kabuto Kodai runs on Square Enix's Manga UP! platform.

KONAMI animation is producing the series under director Motoki Nakanishi, with Haruta Segi serving as assistant director. Gigaemon Ichikawa handles series composition, while Yuki Ito and Kana Tosaoka are designing the characters. Naoki Endo composes the music and Hiromi Kikuta serves as sound director.

Cast and Premiere Details

Honoka Inoue leads the cast as the titular Nia Liston. Additional cast members include Fuka Izumi as Lynokis Funk, Rinna Honnizumi as Hildetaura Altoire, and Rina Hidaka as Reliared Silver.

The series premieres on October 6, 2026, airing on Tokyo MX, BS NTV, and MBS in Japan. An advance screening is set for September 22, while a North American premiere is scheduled for Anime NYC in late August, giving attendees an early look before HIDIVE begins its simulcast run.

What This Means for HIDIVE

The expanded MBS partnership positions HIDIVE to maintain a steady pipeline of exclusive simulcast content through the life of the agreement. MBS has been a consistent source of anime productions, and locking in multi-year output rights gives HIDIVE a structural advantage in securing titles before they reach the open licensing market. With four titles already delivered under the original arrangement and Nia Liston kicking off the expanded phase, the deal signals a deepening relationship between the two companies.

Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden will stream exclusively on HIDIVE outside Asia beginning October 2026.