Event Coverage
TV viewership up in European market, existing formats adapt to new normal
KOLKATA: With shelter-at-place directives in effect, TV consumption has gone up globally. Along with an uptick in the number of viewers, viewing time has also increased during the Covid2019 crisis.
During a presentation at Mipcom 2020, Glance VP Frédéric Vaulpré explained how the pandemic had an impact on TV audiences, and also influenced content production and release in 2020.
"All over the world, viewers have increased in number and have become more devoted to the programs that they watch," said Vaulpré.
He went on to illustrate how being made to stay indoors led to an increase in television viewing times. Five European Union countries – France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Finland – and the UK recorded a significant rise in viewing time. An increase of 7 minutes, 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 19 minutes, 23 minutes, 35 minutes was clocked in Finland, Germany, UK, Spain, France, Italy respectively in January-July 2020 compared to the corresponding period last year. People gradually being released from lockdowns did have a slight effect on TV viewing times.
Glance head of content insight Avril Blondelot noted that 10 per cent of the productions launched in 2020 are linked, in one way or another, to the health crisis. International co-production, particularly in Europe, also witnessed an upward surge this year, nearly double compared to last year. However, there is less certainty regarding international co-production on new shows having held during the months of lockdown.
Many existing content formats had to be adapted to the new normal. With restaurants shut, chefs retreated into their homes and filmed cooking shows in their own kitchens. In France, Cyril Lignac’s Tous en Cuisine saw good uptake. Many fitness shows were also launched with in-home exercises. Non-scripted programming like reality shows also adapted to the current situation.
Among popular genres, thriller shows maintained their sheen during the pre- and post-Covid period. For instance, Netflix’s reality-bending thriller Dark (a wholly German production) was not just popular in Europe but made big waves in India too.
Despite production complications, a number of travel shows went on air and audiences, perhaps to make up for their own stymied holiday plans, eagerly tuned into these programmes. Due to international travel bans in place in many countries, travel shows turned to explore domestic locales. The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, a popular travel show in the UK, was formatted to Misadventures from My Sofa. Game shows too retained their popularity.
What is a more interesting trend is that video games have emerged as a new source of inspiration for content creation. Streaming services, as well as linear TV channels, have launched shows inspired by popular gaming IPS. Netflix is ready to begin production on season 2 of its wildly popular live-action adaptation of The Witcher. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video and Showtime are adapting two of the most lucrative game franchises of all time – Fallout and Halo respectively.
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.
