Masato Oda Appointed Deputy President and GM, Animax Broadcast Japan

Animax Broadcast Japan, a joint venture between Sony Pictures Ent. Japan and four major Japanese animation studios -- Toei Animation, Sunrise, TMS Ent. and Nihon Ad Systems -- announced that Masato (Mark) Oda has been appointed deputy president and general manager of the Japanese anime channel.

In his new position, Oda assumes responsibility for the channel's day-to-day operational management and development. Oda will oversee management of Animax Broadcast Japan's programming, sales, marketing, on-air promotions and technical operations. He will also be a member of the company's board. He replaces Shingo Ishiyama, who has left the channel to pursue other interests.

Since 2005, Oda had been based at SPTI's global headquarters in Culver City, California, where he served as executive director of marketing for SPTI's international networks group. In that position, he was head of marketing for the networks group, which includes more than 50 channels in 135 countries, and reaching nearly 400 million households. Oda joined SPTI from Animax Broadcast Japan in Tokyo where he was marketing director from 2003 to 2005. He also held Tokyo-based positions at Itochu Corporation and Japan Entertainment Network (Cartoon Network Japan).

Oda graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Economics and Asian Studies.

Animax Japan airs 24 hours a day and reaches more than seven million Japanese homes. The channel offers a mix of anime programming such as action, sci-fi, comedy, drama, sports and romance. Animax Japan is the second largest cable and satellite channel in Japan and is the top rated channel in the industry.