Event Coverage
ZDF, CTC, Amazon & Huace to receive MIPTV Medailles d’Honneur
MUMBAI: MIPTV, the world’s leading international TV industry event, has announced that its 2017 Médailles d’Honneur will be awarded to:
ZDF Enterprises, Germany, president and CEO Alexander Coridass,
CTC Media, Russia, CEO Viacheslav Murugov,
Amazon Studios, USA, VP Roy Price, and
Huace Group, China, president and founder Zhao Yifang.
The four will be awarded the MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur in a ceremony taking place in Cannes, France on Wednesday 5 April 2017. The prestigious MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur are awarded to senior executives who have, through their talent, leadership and passion, made a significant contribution to the world of television and the development of the international TV community.
After studying Law and Journalism in Mainz (Germany) and Dijon (France) and working in different roles inside and outside the ZDF network, Alexander Coridass took over as ZDF’s Head of Programme Sales in 1991. He was appointed VP Programme Distribution at ZDF Enterprises in 1992, and in 1998 became President and CEO. Under his leadership, ZDF Enterprises has evolved into a highly profitable and renowned production and distribution group focusing on drama, factual, children/youth and entertainment programming. At the same time, ZDF Enterprises handles all programme acquisitions for the ZDF network including its affiliates and digital channels, making it one of the biggest buyers in the market.
Viacheslav Murugov is CEO of CTC Media (Russia), where he oversees the strategic development and business operations of four TV channels belonging to the company and broadcasting in several countries. His 20-year career in Russian television has led him from amateur script writer to reputable media manager and content producer. In addition to creating highly successful programming, his vision and business attributes have significantly contributed to the development of CTC Media into one of the largest and most productive entertainment television businesses in Russia.
Roy Price is the Vice President of Amazon Studios, where he oversees Prime Video including content licensing and acquisition, as well as all development, production and acquisition of Amazon Original Series and Movies, such as the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning film “Manchester by the Sea”, and Golden Globe and Emmy-winning series “Transparent”. Since joining Amazon in 2004, he has worked with the Amazon Video team, where he oversaw the launch of Amazon’s digital video store, integrations with TV-connected devices, and video streaming with cloud storage.
Zhao Yifang is the Founder and President of Huace Group. She established the company in 2005, and over the past decade has built it into one of the biggest producers of drama series and variety programming in China. In terms of ratings, Huace-produced content accounts for more than 30% of China’s top programmes, and in 2016 its shows accumulated more than 100 billion views across China’s various online broadcasting platforms. In recent years, Zhao’s “Cultural Stepping Out” programme has pushed Huace into partnerships with a number of international production houses and broadcasters, and seen more than 10,000 hours of Huace programming land on numerous platforms around the world.
“It is a great honour to recognise these four exceptional industry figures, who have each, in their own way, made major contributions to the international entertainment content sector, and whose vision and leadership have set the standards in their respective fields,” said MIPTV organiser Reed MIDEM director, TV Division, Laurine Garaude.
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.
