Event Coverage
MipTV to focus on social networks on 10 April
MUMBAI: Three social media industry personalities will deliver keynote addresses at the television trade event MipTV in Cannes, France on 10 April when the spotlight will be focused on social networking.
MySpace/Fox Interactive Media MD international Travis Katz, Bebo president Joanna Shields and and Creative Commons chairman Joi Ito will deliver keynotes. These industry players will give their vision of entertainment in the age of content-sharing across different platforms, how to monetise content today, and the current position of the players involved, including creators, producers, distributors and brands. Since launching in 2004, MySpace has become the world’s largest social network, with 28 localised versions, in 14 languages. Katz will look at the global evolution of the social web, and examine the opportunities now available to content creators, consumers and brands as they converge in this new arena. With over 40 million members and in the process of being acquired by AOL, Bebo was the first network to combine original web content and interactivity by launching into broadcasting and commissioning online series like KateModern, Sophia’s Diary and The Gap Year. Shields will discuss these new formats and analyse their influence on consumer behaviour and impact on new forms of monetisation linked notably to the strong involvement of brands. Creative Commons offers an alternative system for protecting rights inspired by the free licence model. Ito will offer a new vision of downloading by suggesting that content sharing is not a “lost sale” but rather a “gained fan.” Ito will defend the opinion that this is a flourishing sector where all participants stand to win. In addition to these three keynotes, two panels will complete the lineup for the focus on social networking at MipTV. One will cover the theme of marketing and advertising; the other creativity and new content formats.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
