Event Coverage
Endemol’s Peter Bazalgette to open MIPCOM’s Mobile TV session
MUMBAI: Endemol chief creative officer Peter Bazalgette will open a series of events focusing on moble and cross-platform content at MIPCOM in Cannes, France. The event, christened as Mobile TV Day, kicks off on 19 October. Bazalgette will be delivering the keynote address.
In his speech, entitled “It’s Digital Media, Not New Media, stupid!”, Bazalgette will share his views on the future of digital media. He will also unveil Endemol’s latest initiatives in mobile and cross-platform content.
Bazalgette rejects the term “new media” and comments, “The first TV broadcast on the internet happened 11 years ago in 1994; the first video-enabled mobile phone was available over two years ago, it’s time to get on with it and start considering digital media as a place to sell more shows.”
Endemol’s Big Brother is now streamed 24 hours a day to mobiles in Italy, Scandinavia, the UK and the Philippines. The company also produces FanTESStic, a soap-opera exclusively for mobile phones and Totally Frank, a series for Channel 4 in the UK, that includes scripted drama for mobiles.
“In the past year, we have seen a huge increase in the amount of production and distribution deals between the traditional providers of television content and mobile operators and aggregators”, said Paul Johnson, director of Reed MIDEM’s Television Division. “Mobile TV Day at MIPCOM will provide an opportunity for our delegates to see the latest opportunities in mobile as a distribution medium.”
On 19 October – Mobile TV Day – included in the MIPCOM 2005 conference programme, will feature a day of sessions on mobile television, including leading 3G operator case studies, a super panel on audiovisual mobile content distribution and brand marketing opportunities with mobile. A newly designed Made For Mobile Content Screenings programme will feature new entertainment content specifically made for mobile devices, states an official release.
Mobile TV Day at MIPCOM reflects the huge potential of emerging mobile content market. According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, the mobile content market will reach $70 billion worldwide by 2008 and Mobile video will represent $5.7 billion. The number of video enabled phones will grow from 65 million in 2004 to 712 million by 2008.
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.
