Event Coverage
Ericsson launching virtualised MediaFirst video processing
MUMBAI: Ericsson has created the foundation for all IP and cloud native delivery models with the launch of Ericsson MediaFirst Management Controller and Ericsson MediaFirst Encoding Live 8.1.
The fully virtualised processing solution, which makes its debut at NAB Show 2017 in Las Vegas, enables operators to capitalize on consumer demand for new services in areas such as UHD, virtual and augmented reality, along with new revenue generating opportunities like dynamic ad insertion.
Operating on any platform including pure software, common off the shelf (COTS) server hardware, private and public cloud, the flexibility breakthrough addresses complex configurations by taking control of all processing elements, using a service-based approach that secures operations and optimizes service quality.
Ericsson is extending leadership in all IP architectures with the launch of Ericsson MediaFirst Management Controller and Ericsson MediaFirst Encoding Live 8.1 at NAB Show 2017. The Solution streamlines control of all processing elements across any platform using flexible, microservices architecture; enables rapid time to market and increased operator flexibility. New launches will amplify the benefits of Ericsson MediaFirst Video Processing portfolio, to optimise OPEX costs and enable transition towards a holistic, agile software architecture.
Ericsson VP and head of media solutions Elisabetta Romano says: “We are making it easier to monetise services and drive down processing delivery costs throughout the entire content lifecycle. Management Controller and Encoding Live 8.1 are pivotal enhancements to MediaFirst Video Processing, the media industry’s most complete video processing solution. With these launches, Ericsson simplifies operations for content owners, broadcasters and service providers by enabling the move to complete virtualization across the media processing delivery chain.”
Building on the company’s 25 years of pioneering video compression expertise, and in close collaboration with its customers and users, Ericsson MediaFirst Management Controller simplifies the transition to software-based architecture, providing a unified access point for Ericsson MediaFirst Video Processing products including Encoding Live, On Demand, Packaging, and Stream Processing. It allows operators to move away from a restrictive, monolithic approach towards a more agile service-based allocation, which streamlines application management and deployment across many services and clusters. The new management platform offers centralized visibility, configuration and control, along with flexible failover and licensing management for MediaFirst Video Processing applications; it can also adapt to dynamically changing environments, whilst balancing cost control.
MediaFirst Video Processing Encoding Live 8.1 enables faster content deployment, drives operationally efficient delivery, and delivers more immersive consumer experiences than ever before. This newly introduced version offers a truly unified microservice architecture across all platform types, and includes centralized management, integral failover, and dynamic licensing benefits, together with faster video transcoding and industry leading density when deployed on a platform incorporating Intel’s Quick Sync Video (QSV) dedicated video hardware core.
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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.
