Event Coverage
Convergence is the way forward: Baijal
MUMBAI: In the new converged paradigm, the boundaries of telecommunications, media and entertainment and information technology (IT) are blurring and the need to have a common regulator to ensure a smooth transition is of vital importance.
The second day of Ficci Frames saw Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) CEO Simon Twiston Davies, Media Partners Asia Ltd executive director Vivek Couto, Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh A Shroff & Co. managing partner Shardul Shroff, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal, WIPO deputy director general Rita Hayes, National Telecommunications Commission (Philippines) commissioner Ronald Olivar Solis and MCMC (Malaysia) legal advisor Pushpa Nair.
Shroff pointed out that the Indian Convergence Bill of 2000 has still not become legal after being there for five years now. The paper was now dated and needed to be looked at afresh. “This is because our legislature is more politically active but not legally savvy or technologically advanced. The Convergence Bill should not only be able to regulate carriage but also content,” Shroff said.
He also pointed out that the policy papers that emancipated from TRAI were by far the best researched papers in the whole world. “Globally the history of regulation is in the telecom and broadcast sector. This is a progression from a state enforced monopoly framework to increasingly competitive ‘market driven’ framework. The advancement of technology has blurred the line between the telecom and broadcast industries,” Shroff pointed out.
He said that the governing principles of regulation were the following:
1. Competition friendly
2. Consumer/Society friendly
3. Investment friendly
4. Technology friendly
The way forward for enabling regulatory framework for the digital age was that integrated carriage regulations should be combined with the flexibility of separate regulation. “The industry should be encouraged to generate codes and rating guidelines for content and also to establish internal checks. Apart from this, media literacy among masses should also be encouraged,” Shroff concluded.
The inimitable Baijal started by saying that he was totally confused after hearing what the others had to say as all the issues discussed were very complex. “Today we live in the most exciting environment in India and if the regulator and the government don’t encash on it then it would be criminal on their behalf,” said Baijal.
“This dynamic environment has been created by the technology and if the regulator and the government fall behind in technology or the benefits of it, it will not reach the consumer,” he added.
Citing an example of the telecom industry, Baijal said that in 1948 the tele-density in India was 0.02 per cent. In 1998, it went up to 1.94 per cent, which means that it witnessed a growth of 1.92 per cent in 50 years! Last year, Baijal said, the tele-density increased by 2.11 per cent and one player that made it possible to equal the 50 years’ growth in one year was Reliance with its 40 paise mein kar lo duniya mutthi mein’ attitude!
Baijal also pushed the case of unified licensing policy and said that it was the only way to grow. “If we have unified licensing, the there would be a growth in the telecom and broadcasting industries. It is convergence that has allowed us to deliver to different mediums today. Convergence has arrived and if we don’t recognize it then we will not be able to move forward,” he stressed.
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.
