iWorld
Prime Video unveils YA slate and Obsessed Fest fan event
New initiative targets young adults with 2026 slate and LA fan festival.
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning fandom into a full-blown festival and the binge is no longer just on screen. Prime Video has launched Obsession Is In Session, a new push aimed squarely at young adult audiences, pairing a packed 2026 content slate with immersive fan-first experiences designed to extend storytelling beyond the screen.
At the heart of the announcement is a teaser offering first looks at a wide-ranging YA line-up, including Off Campus, Every Year After, Elle, Sterling Point, The Last Sunrise, The Love Hypothesis, The Devil’s Mouth, Maxton Hall Season 3, Drawn Together (Marfil), Your Fault: London, Perfectos Mentirosos and Clashing Through the Snow. The slate signals a clear bet on romance, drama and adaptation-led storytelling that continues to resonate strongly with Gen Z and millennial viewers.
But the bigger play isn’t just what’s streaming, it’s how it’s experienced.
Anchoring the initiative is Obsessed Fest, a one-day event set for 27 June at nya Studios. Positioned as a tentpole fan gathering, the event aims to translate digital fandom into a live, participatory format, bringing together audiences, creators and cast members under one roof.
The programming reads less like a traditional premiere and more like a content playground. A central Main Stage will host talent-led sessions and exclusive footage reveals, while a Book Club zone will dive into popular book-to-screen adaptations with author interactions and workshops. For fans keen to step inside their favourite shows, dedicated content studios will recreate scenes for personalised photo and video moments.
Screening rooms, themed food experiences and exclusive merchandise drops round out the event, turning what would typically be passive viewing into a full-day, multi-sensory engagement.
Alongside this, Amazon MGM Studios is expanding its Prime Book Club initiative, tapping into the growing influence of online reading communities such as BookTok. The programme will focus on bridging books and screen adaptations through curated recommendations, behind-the-scenes content and social-first storytelling.
Taken together, the strategy reflects a shift in how platforms are courting younger audiences less about just dropping shows, and more about building ecosystems around them. For Prime Video, obsession is no longer a side effect of good content, it’s the business model.
iWorld
Govt pushes live events sector to Rs 196 billion by 2028
LEDC roadmap targets 15–20 million jobs and global hub status by 2030
MUMBAI: India’s live events story is getting louder and this time, it’s policy turning up the volume. The fourth meeting of the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), chaired by Chanchal Kumar, was held on 30 April 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, bringing together representatives from nine Central Ministries, six States and 12 industry stakeholders to chart the sector’s next phase of growth. The numbers already tell a compelling story. India’s organised live events industry was valued at Rs 145 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 10 per cent to Rs 196 billion by 2028 making it one of the fastest-expanding segments within the media and entertainment ecosystem.
Set up in July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the LEDC is tasked with turning that momentum into a structured growth engine. Its long-term ambition is ambitious, position India as a global live events hub by 2030 while generating an additional 15–20 million jobs.
At the meeting, officials emphasised the sector’s multiplier effect spanning tourism, employment and allied industries while underlining the need for coordinated execution. A key update was the rollout of a single-window clearance system for live event permissions via the India Cine Hub portal, aimed at simplifying approvals and improving transparency.
States have been urged to adopt the system, alongside implementing the “Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026” by 31 May 2026. The framework seeks to standardise what has long been a fragmented and time-consuming regulatory process.
Beyond permissions, the discussion also turned to infrastructure and talent. A draft concept for greenfield venue development was tabled, alongside plans to build a skilled workforce. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication, in collaboration with industry bodies MESC and EEMA, is set to introduce certificate courses tailored to the live events sector.
Chanchal Kumar stressed that alignment across stakeholders is already in place, with the next challenge being execution at scale. The government, he noted, remains committed to creating a facilitative and transparent ecosystem for organisers.
For an industry once seen as fragmented and event-driven, the message is clear, India’s live events business is no longer just about the show, it’s about building an entire stage for growth.
