Event Coverage
20 countries enter deals for 360 deg VR content with RT at MIPTV 2017
MOSCOW: RT, the global TV news network, has become a pioneer of 360-degree video format commercialisation by securing licensing agreements for VR content with organisations from across 20 countries. The deals followed an RT showcase in which it demonstrated expertise in integrating panoramic videos into documentary features at MIPTV 2017, one of the world’s largest annual content markets.
“This year at MIPTV we have witnessed a real breakthrough in VR content licensing. For the first time we have concluded multiple VR content deals. It’s a clear sign that the market is becoming more established and that the demand for quality 360 content is growing. RT is uniquely positioned to deliver on this growing demand,” says Ed Chizhikov, head of RT 360.
With over 100 current titles, RT presented one of the world’s largest 360 VR original content libraries at the MIPTV market.
RT also hosted a VR session Integration of 360 Video: Pioneering a New Method of Storytelling showcasing the network’s documentary film Project Duterte to demonstrate how 360 segments could be integrated into traditional filmmaking done in the flat format. Project Duterte discusses the controversial drug war waged by President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines. RT correspondent and author of Project Duterte, Marina Kosareva, who managed to secure an exclusive interview with the President of the Philippines during the making of the film, spoke at the RT showcase alongside Chizhikov.
Visitors of the MIPTV 2017 virtual reality pavilion also had a chance to view firsthand the Space 360 project, a team effort by RT, the Roscosmos State Corporation, and Energia Rocket and Space Corporation that brought audiences the first-ever panoramic view of planet Earth as seen from space in November 2016.
During the market, RT was able to successfully license its 360 VR content to 20 organisations from different countries including the UK, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, marking the growth of 360 VR as an essential part of the global content distribution business.
RT was among the first global news media outlets to adopt 360 technology for news production. RT’s panoramic videos are available on Facebook, YouTube and the RT360 app (available at Google Play, AppStore and Oculus Store).
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.
