Event Coverage
Only subscription regime can allow for multiple channels: Dasgupta
Legislation is required but at the end of the day the protagonists (read cable operators and broadcasters) have to come together at the table. This point came out loud and clear in the session on Broadcasting The Importance of Change as Ficci Frames 2002 got underway yesterday.
One issue that seemed clear from the discourses through the day as well as conversations with delegates was that legislation on this issue is a given and can be expected any time now. It should be kept in mind though the uncertain political climate may mitigate against any movement on this at this juncture. But as I&B minister Sushma Swaraj saidThe committee which was constituted for this addressability issue has to give final touches to its recommendations. The objective should be that all stake holders get their legitimate due and the consumer also does not suffer.
The session was chaired by Anil Baijal, additional secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting. Baijal made it a point to declare he should be addressed in this capacity rather than as CEO Prasar Bharati (KS Sarma has officially replaced Baijal as of Thursday).
Sony Entertainment Television CEO, Kunal Dasgupta, one of the speakers at the session, harped on the key point raised by James Murdoch, chairman & CEO, Star Group, at the inauguration of the convention earlier in the day, namely that it was imperative that the cable industry increased declarations.
Pointing to the future, Dasgupta said advertiser supported programming is not viable across the board. Especially in the case of niche channels, the only way they would be able to survive in the long run is through a subscription model, Dasgupta said. He further said that innovations in programming can only happen in a subscription driven regime.
Addressability is the key Dasgupta said, while pointing out that revenues were completely skewed in favour of cable operators. Giving a revenue breakup, Dasgupta said in the present scenario broadcasters got only 10 per cent, MSOs 20 per cent and cable ops pocketed the remaining amount. In no other business does the distributor earn twice that of the content creator, Dasgupta said.
One issue that Dasgupta raised was how the broadcast fraternity appeared to have failed to convincingly present its case to the government. This was not the case with cable associations who had successfully lobbied with the government that advertising was also an income source for broadcasters and therefore there should be a ceiling placed on pay TV subscription rates. And it is not as if the MSOs are having a great time of it. Dasgupta pointed out that Hathway (in which Star has a stake) was making losses to the tune of $ 1 million a month.
Some suggestions that Dasgupta offered:
*The introduction of a two-tier system where there is a basic tier and a premium tier.
*Copyright must be protected and piracy made a punishable offence (in the US it is a major crime). *Government needs to legislate on this.
Allow for DTH and DTT to take off to create a climate where there is a viable alternative to cable. Government policies on both these was inadequate, Dasgupta said. The restrictions on DTH broadcast need to be eased and the input for government support of Rs 50,000 million in the 10th Five Year Plan to push DTT for national broadcaster Doordarshan was inadequate.
*Addressability Enact a new conditional access code. Leave manufacturers the option to freely make set tops.
*Broadcasters and MSOs need to work together to educate consumers and create joint channel distribution companies.
*In all this the local cable operator needs a defined role. And that is to act as an agent for pushing new value added services like Internet over cable, PPV (pay par view), VoD (video on demand, streaming, etc. His incentive is that he earns a commission on all transactions.
Dasguptas last suggestion seems to be the most difficult to implement and even if the government were to step in as is being expected, it looks like being a protracted battle.
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.
