Event Coverage

Industry told to get cracking on CAS

Published

23 years ago

March 15, 2003

MUMBAI: It was a session that was keenly awaited and lived up to its billing as one of the highlights of FRAMES 2003. “Conditional Access Systems – a Mid-Term Review” confirmed two points. One is that despite all the humming and hawing from certain quarters, all the players are drawing up their own plans for life in a post-CAS rollout scenario. The other being that while there might be some addressability by mid-July, most players were looking at the year-end as providing a better picture of the contours of CAS

As far as the government’s take on a key issue exercising the industry, I&B joint secretary Rakesh Mohan more or less laid it out loud and clear, there had been enough talking on the issue. The government had done its bit by inviting as wide a level of opinion as was possible and it was after taking feedback from the industry that the six-month timeline had been arrived at, Mohan said.

Mohan also dismissed as unwarranted the contention that it was due to the government’s delay in clearly outlining the terms of reference for the basic tier that there was a delay happening as far as getting business plans off the ground were concerned. The government was only a facilitator in the process he stressed, while warning that it would be foolhardy on the part of the stakeholders in the business to try and stretch matters out any further.

Outside of that a very well represented group of panelists from all sections of the industry were in on the session chaired by indiantelevision.com CEO Anil Wanvari.

This is the gist of what came out of those discussions:
Shantonu Aditya, SET-Discovery Ltd, stressed that customers as well as industry people needed to be educated about the implications of CAS so as to make the transition smooth. ‘There is a need to create awareness among customers about their right to choose what they want to see and pay for that only, he said.

Further emphasising on the rollout issue, Aditya said the availability of the boxes and cheap financing options available to the customer would make the transition faster. There are some issues related to the technology and quality, but it will be sorted out in phased manner. If CAS is implemented properly, it will definitely be a boon for the industry, as various issues which industry is facing acutely, will be to a great extent resolved. For that to happen successfully, all the constituents in the industry have to work closely, he urged. Talking on the post-CAS scenario, foresaw bundling of channels there also. Talking on the pricing issues he did not disclose any pricing strategy, but said that there would be differential pricing. All broadcasters would do the pricing depending on the demand in different territories, he said.

CASBAA CEO Simon Davies sounded very positive about the future of the industry in India. Pointing to the experience of other Asian countries like Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore, he stated that India would ultimately get it right. He revealed that China, which is the largest pay TV market, is looking at India to work out how it would implement CAS.

The Delhi-based Cable Networks Association general secretary Rakesh Datta, speaking on behalf of last mile operators, said that consumer concerns were unfounded as India had the lowest cable subscription rates in the world. And pleading that it was the consumer who would lose out if as some were saying, CAS would make LMOs redundant, Datta said this needed top be resisted. LCOs represented the last line of defence against the vertically integrated monopolies (Zee and Star were what he was referring to).

Datta said that a fair price for the basic tier was Rs 180. According to Datta, whether the basic tier was priced at Rs 180 or even below Rs 100, there would be no difference to the consumer as the broadcasters would simply rework their pricing strategies accordingly.

Zee Group cable arm SitiCable’s boss Jawahar Goel clarified two points. There would be no question of any Zee bouquet channel turning FTA and secondly that he did not see DTH costing the consumer more than Rs 1,000 more than the upend cable package.

Hinduja TMT’s Ashok Mansukhani said his network was ready and waiting to roll out CAS. Mansukhani said that INCableNet would be ready to roll ahead of the 14 July deadline.

Hathway Cable’s K Jayaraman also alluded to what Aditya had said about the consumers needing to be educated about what CAS was all about.

Both Jayaraman and Mansukhani said some workable solutions would be devised for consumers who wished to migrate to other areas as regards what they were to do with the set top they had purchased.

Zee Turner CEO Sunil Khanna, meanwhile, said there would certainly be a cost attached to the STB that would have to be borne by the consumer and those that were advocating that it be underwritten by the industry were on a wrong track.

Khanna gave an impassioned plea that duties on STBs be reduced (as did Mansukhani earlier) and said this would actually lead to increased revenues for the government since the larger the number of boxes that the public purchased, there would be accruals in the form of huge increases in service, entertainment and income taxes.

Khanna said efforts needed to be made to make the transition as seamless as possible and for that all the stakeholders in the value chain, consumers, LMOs, MSOs, broadcasters and the regulatory authorities needed to be working in tandem rather than at cross purposes.

The session: Panel Discussion on Conditional Access System :A mid term review.

Moderator:Indiantelevision.com CEO Anil Wanvari

The speakers: I&B joint secretary Rakesh Mohan, SitiCable Network Ltd vice chairman Jawahar Goel, CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies, Hinduja TMT Executive Vice President- Corporate Services Ashok Mansukhani, SET Discovery President Shantonu Aditya, Zee Turner CEO Sunil Khanna, Hathway Cable CEO K Jayaraman, Cable Network Association General Secretary Rakesh Dutta

Related Topics:Anil Wanvari FRAMES 2003 Rakesh Mohan

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Event Coverage

Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026

Published

1 month ago

January 28, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

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.

*Glimpses of Anime India Mumbai edition*

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.

Event Coverage

Transcend Goa Day 2 closes with a vision for cross‑border storytelling and shared narratives

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

Day two of Transcend Goa 2026 built on the momentum of the opening day and offered a deeper dive into the possibilities of transmedia storytelling and IP creation. Through a mix of panel discussions, and visionary presentations, the second day highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of building story worlds that thrived across platforms, leaving participants inspired by the breadth of ideas and collaborations that were showcased.

The second day began with the session Transmedia History of Japan Manga/Anime/Game IPs in the Partnership of East Asia. The session explored the evolution of Japanese manga, anime, and game IPs as transmedia ecosystems, shaped through long‑standing collaborations across East Asia. The speaker for the session was RE Entertainment CEO & president Atsuo Nakayama.

L to R: Ankur Pathak, Dhruv Jagasia, Tarana eddy and Caleb Franklin

The session ahead was titled A World Where Narratives are Currency. It explored how powerful narratives function as both creative and commercial currency, shaping brands, fandoms, and franchises in the global media landscape. Speakers included Big Bad Wolf founder Dhruv Jagasia, Matter Entertainment founder & CEO Caleb Franklin, Storiculture transmedia producer Tarana Reddy, with the discussion moderated by writer Ankur Pathak.

The next session post‑lunch was Building Mugafi into a Transmedia Giant. It took a deep dive into transforming Mugafi into a scalable, story‑driven ecosystem. The discussion explored how IP development, technology, and creator communities converge to build a transmedia platform that nurtures talent, expands narratives, and unlocks global opportunities. The speaker for this session was Mugafi founder Vipul Agrawal.

The session titled From Collectibles to Culture – Toys, Merchandising & Global Transmedia Value Chains focused on merchandising and consumer products. It examined how toys, collectibles, and licensing strategies can expand a story’s reach and create sustainable value chains across film, television, gaming, and more. Speakers included Weta head of consumer products Kim Faiga and Weta consumer products sales manager Jack Oolders, with the discussion moderated by Bulletproof Entertainment founder Harish Rao.

L to R: Sunder Aaron, Charuvi Agrawal, Manvendra Shukla and Milind Shinde

The last session for the day was titled The Next Wave of Global IP – Connecting India, Asia & the West. It spotlighted emerging intellectual properties that bridge continents and cultures, highlighting collaborative projects linking creators in India, Asia, and the West. By showcasing case studies on scaling IP across borders, the discussion underscored how co‑productions and shared narratives can reach audiences worldwide. Speakers included 88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind Shinde, CDL TV CEO Charuvi Agrawal, writer Binky Mendez, and Lakshya Digital CEO Manvendra Shukul, with the discussion moderated by Locomotive Global founder Sunder Aaron.

Transcend Goa 2026, concluded with closing remarks from Rao and representatives of the government of Goa, followed by a networking evening. The sessions across the event captured the spirit of collaboration and innovation, showcasing how transmedia storytelling and IP creation can transcend borders, formats, and industries. As the event drew to a close, participants left with renewed inspiration, strengthened connections, and a shared vision for the future of global media and entertainment.

Event Coverage

Transcend Goa 2026 Day 1 showcases India’s journey in storytelling, IP creation and transmedia content

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

Day One of Transcend Goa 2026 marked a significant step for India’s creative industries, as the inaugural transmedia conclave unfolded at the Marquinez Palace in Panjim on 15 January. The summit brought together leading voices from cinema, publishing, gaming, animation and emerging technologies to discuss how stories can move fluidly across formats and reach audiences in new ways.

Conceived as a platform to showcase India’s growing strength in original IP and cross‑media innovation, the conclave set out to highlight the country’s transition from service‑driven work to globally recognised creative leadership. With the support of the Government of Goa, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) and Goa Future Proof curated the event to spark dialogue on the future of storytelling and its impact on culture and commerce.

L to R: Sanjay Ram, Shobha Sant, Veerendra Patil, Monisha Advani and Vijay Koshy

The day opened with an address by a Government of Goa representative and ESG chief executive officer Asvin Chandru. He said, “Goa has been envisioned as a future facing space where cinema, publishing, gaming, technology and artificial intelligence converge, reflecting the state’s ambition to emerge as a hub for creative, innovation and cultural exchange. Over the next two days, we hope this conclave inspires meaningful dialog, learning and collaboration across disciplines.”

Next, government of Goa chief secretary and planning secretary V Candavelou took the stage, setting the tone for the discussions ahead. He noted, “You all know that transmedia storytelling has undergone a transformational change. With the evolving of new technologies, this storytelling keeps on changing. The Transcend Goa summit is making this platform available to all the stakeholders to exhibit their talents. I hope that these two days spark meaningful conversation and ideas for the future.”

The event was graced by Goa’s chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant. “Transcend Goa is a simple idea to create a space where the culture meets technology, creates a space where the creativity connects with opportunity,” he said taking the stage. “The summit is also a pilot. It allows us to learn and understand how Goa can position itself as a large, creative and digital economy. Even small steps matter when we move in the right direction. If this discussion is of value to the creators’ businesses and the students, then these efforts will serve its purpose.”

He further said, “Goa always attracted the artist and thinkers. Today, it also has the students who code, design, animate, write and build the digital products. This summit gives them the exposure. This platform can open new doors and sparks new ideas. The government of Goa has extended support to Transcend Goa because we believe in the enabling of this platform. The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has been entrusted and with the responsibility because it understands the culture landscape and has the capacity to execute such initiatives. We see the summit as a part of the larger efforts, our efforts to strengthen the Goa’s creative economy.”

The keynote was delivered by Creativeland Group chairman Sajan Raj Kurup, who underscored the importance of building narratives and transmedia content that resonate across platforms and markets.

The day opened with the session Beyond the Screen: Creating Stories that Travel, which examined how narratives moved across film, television, games, social media and immersive experiences. It considered strategies for designing stories that adapted and engaged audiences across formats. Speakers included Emmay Entertainment producer partner and CEO Monisha Advani, Zebu Animation co‑founder and creative director Veerendra Patil, TVF president Vijay Koshy and Creativeland Studios CEO Shobha Sant, with the discussion moderated by Mediasmiths founder Sanjay Ram.

The session The Evolution of India’s Media Ecosystem: Transitioning from Outsourcing to Transmedia IP Creation examined how India’s media sector moved from providing back‑end services to developing original intellectual property that attracted global investment. Speakers included Punnaryug Artvision founder Ashish Kulkarni, Brhat founder Raghav Krishna, with the discussion moderated by Bulletproof Entertainment founder Harish Rao.

Post lunch, the session India’s Original IP Powerhouse: The Raj/Alpha Comics Story presented a case study on how publishers such as Raj Comics and Alpha Comics developed Indian superhero stories into transmedia properties. Speakers included Raj Comics founder Sanjay Gupta, Raj Comics and Alpha Comics founder Vasu Gupta, with the discussion moderated by Animation Xpress India director Mishaal Wanvari.

The session The Art of Creating Multiplatform Narratives explored the craft of building cohesive story worlds that unfolded across film, television, games, social media and other formats. It considered approaches to creative planning, audience engagement and maintaining narrative consistency while using the strengths of each medium. Speakers included filmmaker Raja Krishna Menon, filmmaker Reema Maya and filmmaker Q, with the discussion moderated by Mediasmiths founder Ram.

Harish Rao (left) felicitating Vignesh Raja

The session AR Rahman’s Secret Mountain: Building a Transmedia Music Universe introduced the composer’s latest project, Secret Mountain. It highlighted India’s first Meta Band and explored its potential across music, digital platforms and immersive experiences. The presenter for this session was Secret Mountain cofounder Vignesh Raja.

The last session of the day, Animating Success: Green Gold Entertainment’s Journey, highlighted Green Gold Entertainment founder Rajiv Chilaka and his team’s work in building one of India’s leading original animation studios. It traced how Green Gold Entertainment created hit franchises such as Chhota Bheem, developed a merchandise and licensing strategy, and showed that Indian stories could find global resonance. The session featured Chilaka in conversation with Bulletproof Entertainment founder Harish Rao.

The day concluded with a lively networking evening, leaving participants energised and looking forward to the sessions on the second day.