Event Coverage
Prasad says CAS rollout deadline has to be met;Sony Pictures International TV boss urges supportive regulatory environment
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MUMBAI: This was THE high-power session of FRAMES 2003. “Can India make it: The Way Forward” was chaired this morning by the I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad with the keynote address by Sony Pictures, International Television president Michael Grindon. While the other speakers included the likes of CNN International president Chris Cramer, (over a live video feed CNN headquarters in Atlanta), I&B secretary Pawan Chopra, actor Aamir Khan and director Shekhar Kapoor, for the television industry, all eyes were on what Grindon would say, especially with the CAS issue at the back of everyone’s mind. There were two key points that stood out in Grindon’s speech. First was the emphasis that Sony was fully behind its television business in India. “Our financial commitment to Sony India is the largest anywhere outside the US,” Grindon said.  The way forward, according to Grindon was that there should be a “supportive regulatory environment” in place which would allow for the full utilisation of the potential that new technologies offered. That was the only way that Sony’s core philosophy of bringing technology and entertainment together could be realized in India, he said. Grindon said his company was “fully supportive” of CAS but expressed fears that the CAS rollout deadline might make for the introduction of systems that would soon be taken over by technologies thereby making them redundant. It will take some time to implement this system as there are no sufficient manpower and financial support provided by the government, Grindon said. There were insufficient decoders with the cable operators at present to meet consumer demands. Grindon gave the example of the US to buttress his case. America passed the Telecom Act in 1996 to control spiraling costs of accessing cable channels, but still seven years down the line, Americans are still waiting for the benefits of that legislation with cable costs actually being higher than ever. Prasad, as part of his concluding comments, reaffirmed his stance that the CAS deadline would not be pushed back. “The goal posts can be shifted as the situation warrants but serious intent means that there are deadlines that need to be met.” The government would do all in its power to act as a facilitator, Prasad assured, adding that as the CAS rollout progressed, practical exigencies that were thrown up could be dealt with. But for this, the process had to first get under way. Prasad said that the government had never wanted to intervene in this matter. “We thought the question of addressability would be addressed by the markets.” That didn’t happen, he said. “As a politician, my primary concern is to the consumer,” Prasad said. “Let people have choices. Let there be honest, transparent competition,” he concluded. |
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The session: Can India make it: The way forward |
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Chairman: Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad Keynote Presentations: Columbia Tristar International Television USA president , Michael Grindon The speakers:CNN International president Chris Cramer, over a live video feed CNN headquarters in Atlanta), Four Feathers Production promoter Shekhar Kapur, minister of State for External Affairs Vinod Khanna, secretary, ministry of I&B Pawan Chopra, Aamir Khan Productions promoter Aamir Khan |
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.
