Event Coverage
MipTV sees overall growth this year
CANNES: For all those doomsayers who said MipTV was out, the verdict is that it is back and with a vengeance. According to Reed Midem television director Paul Johnson, attendance on all fronts was up this year, two days before the closure of the market.
The number of participants leapt up to 10,953 from 9,103 last year, while the number of exhibiting companies grew to 1,411 as against 1242 last year. The number of companies registered was up to 3866 (2631) while the number of programme buyers was up to 2869 (2325).
“Its always difficult to get an accurate picture of the deal-making activity at such a big market, but for what its worth, the majority of people Ive been in contact with here in Cannes, have been reporting that they have been extremely busy and I dont need to tell you that the MILIA tent has been buzzing,” he pointed out
Statistics MIPTV/ MILIA as of 31/03/2004 (Day Three)
|
MipTV / MILIA 2004
|
Mipcom 2003
|
MipTV 2003
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total participants |
10,953
|
10,186
|
9103
|
| Total exhibiting companies |
1411
|
1243
|
1242
|
| Total companies registered |
3866
|
2741
|
2637
|
| Total countries represented |
92
|
93
|
89
|
| Programme buyers |
2869
(MIP only) |
2850
(MIP only) |
2325
|
Final Statistics OF MIPDOC 2004 (28/03/2004)
|
MIPDOC 2004
|
MIPDOC 2003
|
|
| Number of companies |
366
|
283
|
| Number of participants |
539
|
473
|
| Number of programmes |
1031
|
1157
|
| Number of new programmes |
580
|
566
|
| Number of screenings |
8857
|
7420
|
| Number of programme buyers |
350 Programme Buyers for 217 Companies
|
296 Programme Buyers for 173 Companies
|
The other high point of this event, he pointed out this year, was the presence of the largest official Chinese television delegation ever to leave the country. “Some 250 Chinese executives have been in town. Id like to thank the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television for helping us with MIP China Day and we were particularly thrilled that SARFT Minister Hu Zhanfan was here at MIPTV,” he added.
He said that MipCom which will run from 4 to 8 October will have France Day as its highlight. It will be preceded by Mipcom Junior on 2-3 October.
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.
