Event Coverage
The new paradigm of selling sport…
The India Brand Summit 2024 hosted a riveting panel discussion featuring prominent voices in the sports industry. The discussion explored innovative strategies to market sports content effectively and adapt to the evolving demands of advertisers and focused on how sports marketing has evolved, particularly in attracting advertisers by localising sports content.
This session was moderated by Indian Television Dot Com group’s founder, chairman and editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari, GroupM India, managing director of content, entertainment & sports, Vinit Karnik, Polycab’s lead of category marketing B2C, Amit Sethiya, CricViz India’s Director of Sales, Subhayu Roy and Dentsu X India, senior partner for client leadership, Prabhat Naik.
Vinit Karnik highlighted the significant growth of non-cricket sports like Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and volleyball. He emphasised that these sports, which started as niche activities, have managed to sustain themselves for over eight years, marking a shift in the sports marketing landscape. “Things have changed dramatically in sports marketing,” Karnik stated. “The fact that many people are playing and watching these sports—whether on the ground or streaming platforms—indicates a growing interest that attracts advertisers. The market size has grown exponentially, from ₹1,500 crore to ₹20,000 crore in less than two decades.” Karnik’s insight underscores how sports beyond cricket are becoming valuable advertising platforms due to increased viewership, signalling the industry’s wider acceptance of sports as integral to pop culture.
Amit Sethiya explained how sports marketing has moved beyond simple inventory buying. He pointed out that in earlier days, cricket was the go-to platform for brands. However, with leagues like PKL and Indian Super League (ISL) gaining traction, marketers now leverage rich data to make informed decisions. “Today, it’s no longer about just buying inventory,” Sethiya noted. “The focus is on how brands can utilise the data accumulated over years of these properties. Broadcasters and organisers are helping brands see the potential of connecting with audiences in Tier 2 cities, even with limited budgets.”
This shift has democratised sports marketing, allowing smaller brands to associate with emerging sports without needing deep pockets. The ability to analyse data and understand audience demographics allows advertisers to invest strategically in sports marketing.
Subhayu Roy emphasised the role of data in driving value for advertisers. He explained how CricViz collects up to 60 data points during events, offering insights that enhance viewer engagement and inform advertisers. “For example, when Virat Kohli is at the crease, data suggests that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have never lost a match in the second innings,” Roy shared. “This type of analysis helps retain viewership by keeping fans engaged, thus preventing them from switching channels.” Roy also discussed how data is used to create new monetization streams for advertisers. “From selling ad slots to monetizing player stats, the ability to quantify performance data opens up various revenue avenues for broadcasters and brands alike. This approach allows advertisers to make calculated investments, ensuring their marketing spend delivers the maximum impact.”
Prabhat Naik highlighted the shift from traditional media to digital platforms, attributing it to the growing trend of on-demand content consumption. “Victory lies in the flexibility that digital platforms offer,” Naik said. “While television demands appointment viewing, digital content is always accessible, anytime, anywhere,” Naik stressed that while television still holds its ground, the future of sports marketing lies in adapting to a more digital-first approach. This flexibility is driving advertisers to focus more on digital, making it an essential part of their marketing mix.
The discussion at the India Brand Summit demonstrated that sports marketing is rapidly evolving. With new sports gaining popularity, rich data driving advertiser decisions, and digital platforms offering unmatched flexibility, the industry is embracing innovative ways to engage audiences and deliver value to advertisers. As Vinit Karnik summarised, “Sports is no longer just entertainment; it’s a cultural phenomenon. The way we sell and market sports has changed, and it will continue to grow as an essential platform for brands.”
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.
