Event Coverage
BBC Worldwide opens local production office in India
CANNES: UK pubcaster the BBC‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced the opening of its Indian production office.
The office, headed up by Saul Nassé, will be responsible for bringing the production expertise of the BBC to the Indian market and working with local talent in India to produce and deliver world class television.
The Indian office, which will trade as BBC Worldwide Productions India, is BBC Worldwide‘s third local production base. It will complement BBC Worldwide‘s hugely successful Los Angeles production studio – which currently works with all the major US networks and is responsible for producing the record-breaking Dancing with the Stars on ABC – and its production company in Australia, a joint venture with Freehand.
Making the announcement at the ongoing television trade event Mipcom in Cannes, France BBC Worldwide MD content and production Wayne Garvie said, “India is one of the most important and successful territories for BBC Worldwide. This local production office underlines our commitment to Indian broadcasters and audiences and firmly positions BBC Worldwide as a leading global content network. Under Saul‘s leadership, I‘m confident that the office will quickly become a key player in India‘s growing television industry.”
Nassé added, “I have spent the past year in India, setting up the office and meeting representatives from all the many broadcasters with whom BBC Worldwide works. Two indisputable facts: local productions are by far the most popular programming in India and BBC Worldwide has one of the world‘s richest catalogues of television content and formats. Taken together, therefore, the Indian production base offers genuine synergy. I‘m delighted that the office is now open for business.”
BBC Worldwide has enjoyed a strong distribution business in India for many years as well as close relationships with all the networks. Standout local production successes include Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Dancing with the Stars, which has just started its second series on Sony. Other shows that have been done are The Weakest Link, Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.
Nassé recently led the BBC‘s India & Pakistan ‘07 season, having previously been Editor of Tomorrow‘s World and Acting Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC. Working alongside Nassé will be Sonia Chowdhry, Creative Director, Development and Special Projects, BBC Worldwide Productions India. Chowdhry launched the award-winning Haath Se Haath Milaa (Let‘s Join Hands) programme for the BBC World Service HIV/Aids campaign in India and was Head of Programming for Nickelodeon in India. She will be driving the future business of the company, working with the development teams in London and pitching to local broadcasters.
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.
