Event Coverage
CASBAA 2015 forum to focus on ever-evolving satellite industry landscape
MUMBAI: CASBAA, which will be hosting its annual Satellite Industry Forum in Singapore this June, will explore the latest developments and issues affecting the satellite industry in the Asia Pacific.
The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2015 is a one-day event that brings together industry experts to examine a variety of topics and to exchange and discuss information critical to the development of the communications sector and related services across the Asia-Pacific.
The conference has an impressive lineup of speakers and a good mix of Asian and global players in attendance. Last year around 100 companies were represented with almost half of delegates coming from the US and Europe- with most of the balance coming from Asia.
“Satellite services are instrumental in delivering television signals to the bulk of viewers across the region, and the satellite sector is an integral component of the multichannel TV industry in Asia. The annual CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum is an extremely important event in our calendar, a fact that is reflected by our very active Satellite Industry Committee, as well as by the number of satellite-related companies that are CASBAA members,” said CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter.
ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao will deliver this year’s welcome keynote.
“Zhao only took office in January this year so for many this will be the first opportunity for people to see him in this capacity,” said CASBAA programme director Kevin Jennings.
In addition, Intelsat chief executive officer Stephen Spengler will also be delivering an Industry Keynote. Spengler is a satellite and telecommunications industry veteran with experience in the media, broadband, government and internet sectors and is a driving force behind Intelsat’s next generation of satellite solutions.
Myanmar Communications and Information Technology deputy minister U Thaung Tin will also speak at the forum and discuss Myanmar’s plans to launch its own satellite and how the role of a sovereign satellite will impact the country.
The theme for 2015 asks “Is The Satellite Game Changing?” in acknowledgement of the ever-evolving industry landscape. The agenda for this year’s forum will touch upon the challenges the industry is facing as the very definition of television changes to embrace new technologies, delivery methods and consumer habits.
The roster of speakers encompasses the whole value chain of the satellite industry including: SKY Perfect JSAT Space & Satellite Bus Group exec officer Mitsutoshi Akao, SpeedCast CEO P J Beylier, Intelsat Asia Pacific Regional VP Terry Bleakley, MEASAT CEO Paul Brown-Kenyon, SSL Business Development SVP Richard Currier, ABS CEO Thomas Choi, GapSat CEO Gregg Daffner, Intelsat associate general counsel Gonzalo de Dios, Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen, MEASAT Space Systems Development SVP Dr. Ali Ebadi, LeoSat CEO Vern Fotheringham, ITU Space Services Department chief Yvon Henri, APT Satellite EVP Huang Baozhong, Via Sat programme manager Erwin Hudson, SES CCO Ferdinand Kayser, Eutelsat orbital resources director Ethan Lavan, SES Asia-Pacific and Middle East SVP Deepak Mathur, SpaceX commercial sales & business development SVP Barry Matsumori, Encompass Digital Media Asia MD Deepakjit Singh, Globecast Asia MD Soo Yew Weng, Sea Change International SVP& GM Dave Ulmer and AsiaSat CEO & president Bill Wade.
The sponsors on-board the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2015 are ABS, AsiaSat, Boeing, Eutelsat, Intelsat, JSat, Lockheed Martin, Marsh, Measat, SES, SSL, and Telstra.
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.
