GECs
Insat-4A ready for launch on 22 Dec; DD to telecast event live
MUMBAI: Preparations are in its final stages for the launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) latest satellite, Insat-4A, on board the 169th flight of Ariane from Kourou, French Guyana. Doordarshan will telecast live the launch of Insat-4A, which will begin at 3:45 am on 22 December, 2005 on DD-National.
As already reported on Indiantelevision.com, the launch window for the Ariane-5 G, carrying Insat-4A and its co-passenger, a meteorological satellite, MSG-2 of the European EUMETSAT, is fixed between 04.03 am and 4.31 am.
Insat-4A is the first satellite to be launched in the Insat-4 series. It carries 12 high power Ku-band transponders (all leased out to the Tata-Sky DTH venture) to meet the requirement of direct-to-home (DTH) television services apart from 12 C-band transponders to augment the Insat capacity for communication and DTH services. Weighing 3080 kg at lift-off, Insat-4A is the heaviest satellite of ISRO so far.
The Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka is in readiness to take control of Insat-4A soon after Ariane-5 places it in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of about 620 km x 36,000 km.
In the following days after launch, MCF will conduct operations like orbit raising manoeuvres to take the satellite into the final 36,000 km circular Geosynchronous Orbit.
Deployment of solar arrays and antennas will be carried out before positioning the satellite in its designated orbital slot of 83 degree East longitude along with Insat-2E and Insat-3B. MCF will also carry out regular operations and control of the satellite during its service life.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
