Event Coverage
Sky’s Jeremy Darroch to give keynote at MIPTV
MUMBAI: Sky group CEP Jeremy Darroch will give a media mastermind keynote on 13 April, 2015, as part of the MIPTV conference programme, it was announced by Reed MIDEM, organiser of MIPTV.
Darroch became the group chief executive of Sky following the acquisition of Sky Italia and a majority interest in Sky Deutschland, which transformed the pay TV and home communications company into one of Europe’s leading investors in content.
The MIPTV keynote will be the first time Darroch will address the international media industry since completing the transaction. This year, the theme for MIPTV conference is “The Millennial Shift,” tapping into the heart of this savvy generation of media users whose habits are shifting to newer forms of entertainment.
In three strands of conferences, MIP Digital Fronts, Drama at MIPTV and Junior@MIPTV, this year’s programme will offer the global media industry unprecedented access to the hottest entertainment trends, companies, personalities and emerging media players on the cutting edge when it comes to engaging and embracing millennials.
Darroch joined Sky in 2004 as CFO, and was appointed chief executive of the company in 2007. Under his leadership, Sky has grown into Europe’s leading entertainment company, increasing spend on its own original commissions as well as striking partnerships with some of the world’s biggest content producers.
He said, “2015 will be a great year for entertainment programming on Sky. The launch this month of Fortitude, our most ambitious drama yet, and the first to launch simultaneously across all five of our markets, is just the first in a slate of exciting new shows that we are bringing to screen this year. I look forward to coming to MIPTV 2015 to lift the lid on our plans and talk to the industry about the scale of the opportunity as we work together to create a powerhouse for TV content across Europe.”
Reed MIDEM director of television Laurine Garaude added, “We are privileged to welcome Jeremy Darroch for this keynote address. Given Sky’s pivotal position in the creation of original content with transnational appeal, his insight will be of great value to the MIPTV audience.”
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.
