Event Coverage
After the iPod, await the age of the video pod
CANNES: The future holds opportunities of connecting to audiences in unimaginable ways through content that is more personal and more meaningful for the consumer.
That was Dawn Airey, managing director Sky networks, BSkyB, UK giving her take during one of Tuesday’s keynote addresses ‘Fast Forward to TV in 2015.’
Suffice to say that Indiantelevision.com remains skeptical of crystal ball gazing, more so where technologies are involved. Fortunately though, Airey’s address was grounded in the present so there was still enough one could take away from it, more so since the subjects covered were in a way an extension of what had been discussed earlier during the session on ‘Interactive Advertising, Current Successes and Opportunities in the On-Demand World.’
So what is the brave new world according to Airey? The obvious one, of course, is that viewers will have the option of choosing from multilinear plotlines for various shows much the same way as is already happening in a big way in the gaming world. Drama is where the story of the future of interactive TV might well be scripted. That will be the biggest change because what drives interactivity today is unscripted shows (as in reality TV) and not in scripted programming.
And just as Apple’s iPod has become a must-have accessory for today’s cool dudes, tomorrow it will be the videopod and other new wave tech advances that take centrestage.
Another obvious is that the linear programming schedules, that define TV viewing today, will in disappear in a large part. Except in the case of live events (sports, in particular) as well as for breaking news stories. Sports will continue to lend itself to community viewing (as in at the pub with the lads to watch a soccer match for instance). But otherwise TV will be all about time shift so that content (in customised packages) will be available ‘whatever, whenever, wherever’ the consumer wants.
And it will be channels that get higher ratings from viewers on the convenience/ quality/ control (in terms of choices) will come out on the winning side, Airey says.
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.
