Event Coverage
TV branding as important for a channel as content
MUMBAI: With new channels launching in the country almost every month, gone are the days when only Doordarshan had a stronghold in the country. While the industry has grown significantly over the years, there has been an increasing need felt by the TV channels to maintain a separate identity that is unique and clutter free.
Keeping that in mind, FICCI Frames, which will be held from 4 – 6 April this year will focus on Television Branding at a time when channels need to create a distinct identity in this cluttered environment.
Originally the main criteria for a television identity was to look good, big and glossy and expensive, an emblem or a logo or a series of colours and numbers that glistened on TV screens.
But more offering in the form of channels has also resulted in viewers becoming more discerning, which means that channels have to be more adventurous to gain and hold an audience.
As TV’s evolution rolls into a new era, “branding” is what defines the modern challenge. FICCI Frames will address the issues revolving around Television Branding. The session will be addressed by Philip Kitcher from Bruce Dunlop Associates, a firm that advises TV companies and others the world over on branding and positioning of TV channels, ads, etc. The session
will delve into the specific of how to go about branding TV channels?
The things to take into consideration where branding is concerned is that one must understand what is being sought to be achieved and comprehend the competition’s game plan to chose a line of action. It is also imperative to make sure that everyone, for example, in a TV station understands that branding means the following things:
1. the light that guides the channel, which clearly shows the path ahead,
2. the glue that holds a channel together – focused and united,
3. the flag that flies proudly, so that everyone who sees it understands what it means and respects it for what it is
4. the attitude and tone of voice with which you speak to your viewers
5. the ideas and concepts you bring to the screen
6. a team effort. It can’t be anything else.
7. If these pointers are put across to the programming heads of
channels, programme producers, especially news teams, along with the on-air promotion and design teams, executives can be rest assured that their “rebrand” will be successful.
For television branding, every piece of communication should fit into one’s strategy; whether it is the way a promotion script is written or an announcer chooses his words. These are important for the brand.
Great branding begins at the bottom, infiltrates everything, and works it’s way to the front of everyone’s mind. There is no comfort in doing what everyone else is doing, so new tricks have to be learnt. All this and more will be talked about at FICCI Frames.
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.
