Event Coverage
The Niche Channel Option: Miles to go for India
Developed television markets like the US have a bouquet of channels, with some mainstream entertainment channels and other niche channels. But that kind of scenario is some time away for the Indian market. Reason: the absence of conditional access, which can work as a tap for consistent subscription revenue.
That was the consensus at the session focusing on niche broadcasting.
Chaired by former Star India chairman and Tara promoter Rathikant Basu, the session had a distinguished panel: History Channel managing director Carl Meyer, Tech TV sales & marketing head Rasa Urmonas, ESPN Software India managing director Manu Sawhney, Carlton Television producer – cultural diversity- Parminder Vir and Doordarshan director general S.Y. Quarishi.
Both Urmonas and Myer pointed out that niche channels are not cheap to create: tremendous funds are needed to do research, and programming teams to implement concepts for informative channels such as the ones they individual lead. Urmonas said that she was on a fact finding mission in India and the trip had been an eyeopener for her..
Sawhney said it was imperative for a niche channel to know its audience and deliver quality content better than general and other channels. Niche channels especially those like sports – which arouse passion – have universal appeal, he said, especially cricket in India.
Vir presented a case study of how British Asians who number 3 million and have a lot of disposable income, are being wooed back to terrestrial TV. “By 1995, we had lost nearly 70 per cent of our audience to cable and satellite channels,” she revealed.
A cross-industry platform, the Cultural Diversity Network – consisting of various broadcasters to pool together resources – has been set up, she said. “We had a conference in 2001, we drew up a gameplan and we are implementing it,” she says. “And the audiences are coming back,” she says.
DD DG Quarishi emphasised that as a pubcaster his network has a responsibility to deliver educational, agricultural and cultural programmes which are targeted at niche audiences, even if these generate no revenue. He added that the state-owned network is now looking at DTT (digital terrestrial transmission). which will provide subscribers a 12 channel bouquet through a set top box priced at Rs 500 in the near future. He mentioned that advertisers interested in reaching specific audiences have shown interest in advertising on some of DD’s niche shows.
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.
