Event Coverage
Mobile TV: Opportunity beckons in digital unwired world
CANNES: Wet, miserable and about the jolliest crowd around seemed to be the brolly sellers (who made a killing). Still, Wednesday more than lived up to its billing as the highlight day of Mipcom 2005 with the focus being on mobile television.
Everyone wanted a piece of the action around the mobile sessions and it was standing room only through the day in what turned out to be a really worthwhile experience for delegates at the mart.
“The greatest opportunity the content industry has had” is how Peter Bazalgette, chief creative officer, Endemol Group put it during his mobile and cross-platform keynote that had a rather quirky title ‘It’s Digital, Not New Media Stupid!’
But there was nothing quirky about his presentation, which he broke up into three parts:the way ahead; hurdles; new Endemol ventures (more on that in a separate report).
By 2010 there will be three billion TV users and an equal number of mobile users. According to the Endemol CCO, mobile is going to go worldwide in a way that is unprecedented.
Bazalgette had some surprising points to make as well. One was that soaps DO work well on mobile (at least those that are already popular brands on TV) because people are familiar with the story and plotline. And because they are familiar with the plot, people will still tolerate the poor picture quality that current bandwidth problems and handset deficiencies will in due course get sorted out.
And while mobile episodes that are simply repurposed from TV content is already a common feature, Bazalgette pointed out that there is certainly a case for building EXCLUSIVE mobile content around well known TV brands as well.
He took the point further when he stated that the next step should be to create content just for mobile and for the needs of the mobile service.
Mobile TV consumption patterns
Morning (7 to 9:30), lunch hour and evenings are when there is the highest consumption, clearly pointing to a link with commute times as well as free time. The challenge, said Bazalgette, was to extend that time frame and it was only when content providers had cracked this particular hurdle that the real ramp up in mobile TV content would take place.
Production rules
More close ups.
Slower speech.
Higher contrast, different lights.
So what are the immediate challenges for players looking to take the plunge?
P to P swapping is going up so digital rights management would be an issue.
Equitable deals need to be negotiated for content creators.
A marketing model, particularly for original content (and not a brand extension of existing product).
Clear pricing.
Advertising. Should it be a free to air model in the initial phase to pump up subscriber volumes? Indiantelevision.com believes that this strategy should be avoided at all costs since the beauty of mobile is that the culture of payment (pay per download and pay per streaming) is built in to the system and all users expect to pay.
Spectrum width continues to be an issue. Till regulators release additional spectrum bandwidth problems will remain.
Mobile phone groups need to sell the content as well as the technology. Late adaptors (or the mass user) need and want content, not the backend technology.
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.
