Event Coverage
DTH guidelines to stay: Mohan
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MUMBAI: “The potential is there as an alternate platform. But to drive DTH forward the government should rethink its stand on cross media ownership restrictions as well as foreign investment in DTH projects. Additionally, the mandatory requirement for open architecture for the set top box is another serious challenge in the push for DTH.” That was the common line taken by the four panelists who shared the dais with I&B joint secretary Rakesh Mohan who was the moderator on the discussion “DTH: making it a Viable Option.” Mohan’s response was that there are serious players who have shown interest in getting into DTH (Zee through Agrani and Star through Space TV) so there is no requirement to alter the present guidelines for starting DTH operations in India. |
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That was the gist of the discussions around the subject at today’s session.  As far as what are the issues that would make DTH a competitive option, Merril Lynch’s Prahlad Shantigram identified three issues: pricing, content and customer services. After 10, years the C&S population would go up to 150 million from the current 40 million and DTH could possibly cover 15 to 20 per cent of that population. But Shantigram said only players with strong financial muscle could get into a game that he estimated would cost between $ 500 million to $ 1 billion over the next seven years. When it was pointed out that a lot of the additional qualitative advantages that DTH offered would be provided by digital cable, the conclusion of the panelists was that the value adds that DTH offered should be seen beyond just as an entertainment vehicle but a tool through which a wide range of services could be addressed. The serious disadvantage the session had was that neither of the two serious players in the DTH plans – Agrani and Space TV – were not represented at the discussions. |
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.
