Event Coverage
‘Ratings data still best indicator of audience preferences’
Whatever may be their shortcomings perceived or otherwise, data that ratings agencies provide still give the best possible understanding of the viewing profile was a point that was forcefully stressed at the session – Research and Consumer Behaviour, on the concluding day of Ficci Frames 2002 in Mumbai. “Numbers are only characters until they talk to you,” said Tarun Katyal, V-P, programming Star India, making the point that while qualitative research is important, what is essentially a creative endeavour – the business of programming, required an emotional connect to the viewer and often one has to go with gut feel.
Qualitative research is invaluable to any organisation trying to read into trends as far as consumer behaviour is concerned as well as in putting a fix on how the future directions were concerned, was a point all the panellists agreed on.
Pradeep Hejmady, director, research, said that whether it was programming, distribution or ad sales and marketing, there was a need for proper data based on which decisions could be made. On distribution – penetration, nature of market (whether the population owned primarily B/W or colour TVs) were some of the issues that were important. As for ad sales – the target audience, profile matching, a brand’s day part coverage strategy, etc were all seen as important elements.
To sum up, Hejmady said research aids in transformation of a mission into a quantifiable time bound goal
Speaking about the merger of the ratings systems which was to take effect in June, LV Krishnan, CEO, TAM media research said that post unification from 3454 homes (covering 18,000 individuals) the number would go up to 5800 in next 18 months for the 49 cities that the two ratings systems (the other being ORG MARG’s INTAM service) cover. On the issue of replenishment of peoplemeters, Krishnan said this was at 20 per cent, which is twice what is recommended in Europe
Krishnan, pointed to the last mile connectivity as being crucial to a channel’s (and by extension the programmes it aired) reach. The number of people reached by the programme was closely linked to the band that the cable operator placed a channel on, Krishnan said.
In the prime band (first 12 channels) – a channel receives virtually 100 per cent accessibility. Citing examples, Krishnan said B4U Music quickly reached parity with MTV in many areas because cable ops placed it on the prime band.
ETV Bangla gained huge audience reach not just because of its election coverage but because it was placed on the prime band by cable ops, Krishnan said.
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.
