Event Coverage
MIPTV 2003 attendance dips 11 per cent
PARIS: The concern over the Iraq conflict saw a drop in attendance for the 40th anniversary edition of MIPTV (International Television Programme Market) . The Cannes event which took place from 24-28 March attracted 9,104 delegates. Last year the figure was 10,200.
An official release informs that 2,705 companies from 89 countries and 2,336 buyers gathered to do business during this year’s market. There were 1247 exhibiting companies. This was a slight improvement from last year when there were 2,686 companies from 92 countries including 1205 exhibiting companies.
As per feedback received from international delegates, the television market provided the perfect environment to generate lucrative deals. Many participants noted that they had more time to spend with their clients and thus consolidated their partnerships. They also noticed an increase in the overall level of quality of production being shown at MIPTV.
The release states that since seeing formats were still high on broadcasters’ agendas, the genre has now entered a new phase of growth, culminating in cross-genre concepts which incorporate other non-format production elements taken from drama, sitcom or factual entertainment. With a feast of original programming on offer and catering to the ongoing demand, the UK’s Action Time signed a multi-format deal with the pan-European production company Europroducciones.
MIPTV saw BBC Worldwide, German channel ZDF and ORF sign a major co-production deal for the landmark series The Natural History of Europe., Arte, Southern Star, & Associes and Tele Images have joined forces to produce a documentary Operation Aquapolis.
In addition Tiburon TV confirmed a license agreement with Distraction Formats for the scripted comedy Camera Caf’ and IDTV’s new drama format Finals was signed as a development license by Channel 4 (UK). The ultimate format extravaganza came in the form of Eurobest, the European finale of Endemol’s Star Academy which was hosted during MIPTV 2003 and broadcast live by TF1. The show welcomed special performances from Tom Jones, Mariah Carey and Atomic Kitten, who graced the Grand Auditorium stage in the Palais des Festivals.
TF1 extended its output agreement with Carlton International, with the deal covering TV movies from Carlton America. ZDF Enterprises and Discovery Communications extended their programming and production joint venture until 2005.
MILIA, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary and ran alongside MIPTV 2003 from 26 – 28 March had over 1300 professionals from 53 countries. MIPTV 2004 is scheduled to take place on 29 March to 2 April, preceded by MIPDOC which will run from 27 to 28 March.
The international television community will next meet for the 19th edition of MIPCOM, which will run from 10-14 October. This will be preceded by MIPCOM Junior from 8- 9 October. This year’s MIPCOM will also introduce the Merchandising Club, a new feature focusing on licensing and merchandising activities.
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.
