Event Coverage
MIPTV 2005: Preparing industry for the onrush of change
CANNES: “People need to prepare for all the oncoming changes that new technologies are engendering, the speed of which is quite scary.” That, according to Reed MIDEM director of the television division Paul Johnson, has been the key thought behind the technology-heavy structuring of this year’s MIPTV featuring MILIA 2005.
And tech-heavy it was. New level of technology participation is indicated by the very visible presence of the big boys of the business Vodafone, Orange, Alcatel, Microsoft, Nokia and Samsung, to name a few.
Johnson also referred to how MIPTV was strategically placed as a platform to facilitate the exchange of ideas. “This continued with our UN AIDS initiative which is a social and economic issue which the world media needs to pay more attention to,” he pointed out.
Another highlight of the event that got a mention was the DVD awards which at MIPCOM will have three added categories in music, sports and gaming.
The new wave flavour for everyone in Cannes seemed to be around the mobile and all it offered. Mobile screenings have been one of the standout hits at MIPTV 2005 and will have an increased prominence at MIPCOM in October where a focus in the presentations will be on the kind of handsets that are going to be on the market in the next three to five years. A glimpse into the future of the most overarching technological wonder since the advent of the TV will certainly be what everyone will want to see.
Throwing some figures, Johnson said the number of mobiles worldwide stood at 600 million, an increase of 30 per cent from 2003.
There have been good numbers on the attendance front as well. By the end of Wednesday (Day 3) attendance was at 12,007, well on track to cross the 12,913 participants that early estimates had indicated would be attending this year.
A numbers check at the end of Day 3 gives the following stats:
.Total companies attending 4,022, up eight per cent from the 3,728 last year.
.Total TV buyers 3,598 up 25 per cent from the 2,868 last time round.
.Total countries represented 98 up from 92 in 2004.
.Total participants arrived 12,007 up 13 per cent from 10,655.
Speaking about the sheer scale of planning that had gone into the event, Johnson said Reed MIDEM tripled the investments made in order to increase the facilities and number of conferences. And those investments are obviously paying dividends. Director of press and public relations Michael Williams said he’d never seen the kind of attendance that were seen this year. Williams should know as he’s been at the centre of things for the last two years with Reed MIDEM.
Looking ahead to MIPCOM later this year. It will run from 15 to 21 October I (MIPCOM Junior 15-16 October and MIPCOM from 17 to 21 October).
In parting, Johnson gave the assurance for those like Indiantelevision.com that were a bit wary of the overarching dominance of technology at a market that is all about content, the buying and selling of it, ‘Content is what we are about and that is never going to change.’
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.
