Event Coverage
TV business looking up: MIPTV/MILIA
MUMBAI: Business should be soon booming on television. During the Mipcom ’04 MIPTV/MILIA, which took place 29 March – 2 April ’04 in Cannes, it was noted that television and interactive content industries were showing signs of recovery.
With strong overall attendance figures and a significant rise in the number of programme buyers at the markets, Mipcom ’03 indicated that there is a renewed feeling of confidence, which had heralded an upswing in deal-making.
According to the MIPTV/MILIA final figures the number of participants had hit 11,110, compared to 10,186 at Mipcom last October. 3,831 companies were represented in Cannes, up from 2,741 at MIPCOM. At 2,882, the number of programme buyers at MIPTV rose by 23.96 per cent compared to MIPTV 2003.
For the first time, in Mipcom 2004 MIPTV and MILIA were brought together in the same place and on the same dates. It is a reflection of the increasing convergence between traditional television broadcasters/producers and mobile telephony specialists, interactive content providers and broadband distributors, says a company release.
A packed Milia hall, Milia conferences and the success of the ‘New TV Briefings’ programme that was dedicated to interactive formats, underlined the strong demand for on-going discussions between the television and interactive sectors.
Opening keynote speech at Miptv/Milia given by BBC director of television Jana Bennett focussed on the future of interactive television. Other keynotes included Sony Pictures Digital Networks executive VP Patrick Kennedy, News Corp senior VP content and marketing Lucy Hood, and Neoteny founder and CEO Joichi Ito.
Even the two-day documentary screenings Mipdoc, which precede Miptv/Milia, was particularly active. 366 companies were represented at the screenings, compared to 253 this time last year.
Of the 1,031 programmes available for screening, 580 were making their first appearance at Mipdoc. The number of international buyers jumped to 350 from 217 companies – a marked increase on last year’s 296 acquisition executives from 173 companies. The number of programmes screened rose to 8,857 from 7,420 this time last year, reflecting renewed interest in factual programming, adds the release.
On 31 March, designated China Day at MIPTV, the spotlight focussed on the largest ever Chinese television delegation (over 250 executives) to attend an international market.
Co-hosted by China’s SARFT (State administration for radio, film and television) and in the presence of SARFT vice minister Hu Zhanfan, China Day included two heavyweight conferences. ‘Window on the Chinese Market’ gave leading Chinese television executives the chance to provide conference attendees with an overview of recent market developments in China. ‘Programming, Co-Production and Producers in China’ allowed international television experts to share their experiences of doing business with the Chinese.
At the conference, Hallmark Entertainment chairman and internationally-respected producer Robert Halmi Sr receive the rare French cultural medal, ‘Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres.’ To mark his contribution to family entertainment, Robert Halmi Sr. was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Reed Midem chief executive officer Paul Zilk, and Cannes mayor and member of the French national assembly, Bernard Brochand, honoured Halmi with a “Palme d’Or” (Golden Palm) trophy.
The conference programme in 2004 paid special attention to the relationship between the television industry and the advertising world. As television producers seek new sources of financing and advertisers try to maximise the efficiency of their investment, key debates on such subjects as the future of product placement within European programming, drew full houses.
During the upcoming MIPCOM 2004, held at Cannes, 4-8 October, the organisers will pay tribute to France, with the first France Day. Market attendees will also be able to catch up on the latest in high definition programming thanks to the four-day HDTV screenings, organised in partnership with Outside Broadcast of Belgium. In addition Mipcom Junior will run from 2-3 October, adds the release.
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.
