News Broadcasting
Mipcom Junior to look at the state of animation in India
MUMBAI: The organisers at the television trade event Mipcom in France Reed Midem have announced that Mipcom Junior which is dedicated to kids content has enhanced its conference programme.
Mipcom Junior takes place from 7-8 october 2009.
Some of the key topics scheduled to be discussed include multi-platform content, licensing and merchandising and programming strategies. There will also be a special session on the evolving landscape of animation in India. The country is already known worldwide for its animated series in 2D and 3D for TV and DVD and this spotlight will enable potential investors to keep abreast of the developments which are attracting more and more foreign investment.
Another highlight this year will be a special discussion between two executives, DIC Entertainment’s chairman and CEO Andy Heyward and Cookie Jar Entertainment president and COO Toper Taylor. The session is co-organised with Licence! magazine and will focus on the importance of licensing for children’s TV companies.
On 7 October three separate sessions, partnered with Kidscreen Magazine, will demonstrate to participants the art of pitching projects to broadcasters, optimising new digital platforms and anticipating the needs of buyers.
Also on the agenda are two specialised licensing workshops. The first is in collaboration with the French consultancy agency Kazachok and is called I Have a Great TV Programme, How do I Licence it?. During the session leading experts in the licensing/merchandising field will give participants first-hand advise to help them successfully license their products.
The second workshop organised by The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), demonstrates via case studies with companies such as Nickelodeon, the mechanics of producing spin-off products parallel to the TV success of a programme.
The “Mipcom Junior Licensing Challenge” returns to Cannes on 8 October. This gives delegates the opportunity to put their property forward in full view of the TV community in the hope of finding tomorrow’s licensing star. The competition is held in association with US trade publication, Licence! magazine.
Following a pre-selection process led by the Editor-in-Chief of the publication, a jury of experts, predominantly toy manufacturers, agents and broadcasters, will evaluate a total of five non-aired projects selected on the basis of their strong potential for licensing and merchandising exploitation.
For those presenting, as well as those in attendance, the event is sure to be informative, eye-opening, and fun. The “MIPCOM Junior Licensing Challenge” was launched for the first time in 2004.
The number of programmes screened at the 2005 edition of Mipcom Junior reached an all time record with the easy-to-use digital video library launched in 2004. A total of 39,134 screenings were recorded compared to 13,956 in 2004. Once again this new digital technology will offer optimal screening conditions for all the programmes listed in the Mipcom Junior 2006 catalogue.
Last year’s edition of Mipcom Junior 2005 welcomed, 819 participants from 497 companies and from 53 countries. 839 programmes were presented of which 462 were new.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
