Event Coverage
New media to open up new revenue streams: Punit Goenka
MUMBAI: Entertainment in today’s times cannot be termed as evolution anymore, it is a ‘revolution’, Zee Entertainment Enterprises MD and CEO Punit Goenka said on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at Ficci Frames 2012.
According to Goenka, there are two main factors that are driving the revolution — young population with high disposable income; and a new generation that is ready to embrace new technology at the drop of a hat.
Emphasising on the fact that new media would create unique revenue generation models for the entire value chain, he said that with the spread of adoption of content consumption, very soon new media will not be new media. It will be “The media”.
Goenka said content consumption is going through a sea change. Broadcasters are increasingly looking to engage young audiences through new media offerings. “With dependence on ad revenues going down, newer avenues will open up for content players. Niche and sports channels, currently unprofitable ventures, will start becoming viable businesses. 3G, 4G and Wireless Broadband will evolve as new platforms for distribution of content. Also, smart devices will drive consumption of content on-the-go.
Goenka also said that the ratings system in India is inadequate. It needs to be enhanced to give the right picture of TV viewing.
He said that GenNext is redefining the TV broadcast industry and to move forward content creators, content delivery platforms and broadcasters have to work in sync to meet their expectations.
“India’s young population is demonstrating huge appetite for digital content. Broadcasters and content providers need to ride on the tech wave to seize the opportunity. Technology is re-defining industries and consumer consumption. Broadcasters and content houses are working towards building anytime, anywhere access to content. Content producers are looking at partnerships with platform owners. Distribution players need to evolve into an intelligent pipe,” he added.
Niche is the way forward in the television space. “It is imperative to have fair price for the content available. Content has to scale up to command fair share of consumer’s wallet. Premium pricing should be demanded for exclusive content and consumers are willing to pay for such content.”
Talking about digitisation, Goenka said, “Consolidation and co-option will drive digitisation. Less than 20 per cent channels are profitable on standalone basis. With the implementation of DAS, as per the announced timelines, there would be accelerated conversion from analogue to digital subscribers. I believe that over the next 4-5 years, the television distribution business can evolve to a more transparent, organised and service oriented industry.”
“Young Indian with an average age of 29 constitutes a majority of wealth accumulators. They will decide which way the entertainment content and delivery mechanism moves over the next few years. At least 2.2 million jobs will be created over the next two years, resulting in the changing lifestyle of India‘s younger generation. Over the next 10 years, GenNext should constitute the majority of ‘wealth accumulators’,” he added.
As smart phones gain in popularity and acceptance, emerging youth markets such as China and India offer a bigger opportunity in terms of market size and potential. “India will leapfrog the United States and Europe’s combined markets to become the second largest youth smart phone market with 66 million owners,” he added.
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.
