Event Coverage
Indian cable TV industry is extremely dynamic, says Indiantelevision.com CEO
We continue the countdown to FRAMES 2003 with an interview with Indiantelevision.com founder and CEO Anil Wanvari. At the convention, he will moderate entire session on ‘Conditional Access System: A mid term review’.
Is the cable industry upto the challenges of Set Top Boxes and addresability?
The Indian cable TV industry is extremely dynamic, proactive, technologically savvy and has evolved to attain a high degree of service orientation even without the so-called sophistication that some of the international cable TV systems have.
It has grown to the status of more than 48 million cable TV homes connected, and more passed, primarily through the private initiative of individuals who chose to become cable TV operators. They did not need foreign capital, nor did they need governmental aid or guidance.
In fact, cable TV operators are hemmed in by a very high rate of taxation in the shape of entertainment tax which various state governments levy on them. And yet they have managed to increase the bouquet of offerings they provide to viewers at a fraction of the cost that other viewers internationally would be paying in their countries. Rs 200-350 per month in cable TV charges is almost a fraction of what a bouquet of channels would cost in the US or even south-east Asia. Someday, 100 channels in India will end up costing cable TV viewers in the vicinity of Rs 1,700 a month.
Cable TV operators along with the MSOs have the werewithal to take the industry into the conditional access regime. 14 July is the deadline drawn up by the government to roll out CAS. Going by the cable TV operators track record, it may well meet it. But the other elements in the CAS chain – broadcasters, subscription management system software suppliers, set top box manufacturers, government etc – will also have to work in tandem with them for the rollout to happen on schedule.
Will convergence ever occur?
Convergence has already started to occur. What may take time to realise is Internet driven convergence. Telecom driven convergence is already upon us. Take Reliance Infocomm: you can watch promos of Sony Entertainment shows on the CDMA handsets, you can watch Aaj Tak news too. The picture quality needs improvement, but the point is we are watching television on a telephone handset.
How will CAS redifine the role of the broadcaster, the MSO and the last mile operator ?
This will depend on the type of CAS regime that will come into play in the Indian market. Will it be HITS or will it be individual cable operator driven CAS? Both are likely to co-exist. The entire trade will be grappling with the evolution of CAS at least for another two to three years. Possibly even more.
A greater degree of service orientation will come in amongst all the elements in the CAS chain, the entire trade will have to be nimble footed, many new commercial streams of revenue will become available. Both opportunities and threats are going to crop up. These will have to be dealt with, judiciously.
How do fora such as FRAMES help in developing / professionalising the business of entertainment in India ?
Frames works like a honey fount attracting many who go to make the many parts that constitute the entertainment business in India. Film, TV, Music, Animation, Theme Parks, gaming – executives and promoters operating in these areas come together and discuss issues around a business which is being projected as one of the fastest growing areas of even developed economies. The process of discussion, networking and information dissemination will but naturally have a gradual cumulative effect on helping the entertainment industry evolve further.
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.
