Event Coverage
India’s paid VoD users spend 53 per cent watch time on local content
MUMBAI: Despite a deluge of global content coming to India thanks to a multitude of streaming platforms, the Indian audience continues to retain a strong appetite for local content. According to a report from Alphabeta Strategy and economics, the paid video-on-demand (VoD) audience in the country spends 53 per cent watch time on local content. Along with India, other Asian countries also show the same fondness for local content.
AlphaBeta commissioned a survey of internet users watching paid online VOD once a month or more in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. The survey has also found that the demand for local content remains same across all the age groups. During a session in FICCI FRAMES 2019, Alphabeta Strategy and Economics engagement manager Dr. Konstantin Mathhies revealed the findings.
“With strong consumer demand for local content, VOD players will have to increasingly provide high-quality local content to align with these preferences. Already, many VOD players in Asia have developed “hyper-local” strategies in content investment – with a focus on producing high-quality shows that also differentiate their offerings in a competitive market,” the report read. It also cited the example of global players like Amazon, Netflix going local in Asia.
While all the large international players are investing in the Asian countries, local players are also ramping up the investment in content. The study estimates that the content spending in Asia could go up to US$10.1 billion in 2022 from US$2.7 billion in 2017.
Moreover, foreign direct investment in local content in Asia is also expected to get a boost given the fact that VoD spending is largely driven by global players . The report added that the potential FDI could reach US$4 billion by 2022.
The key findings of the report depict that over 80 per cent of VoD executives cite a welcoming investment environment, supportive regulations, and high-quality content production infrastructure as key to driving content investment. It also adds that VoD makes it easier for Asian entertainment to reach at least 450 mn people globally today.
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.
