GECs
BBC Arabic launches on FM in Lebanon
MUMBAI: The international radio news service BBC Arabic has increased its presence in the Middle East with a new partnership.
Listeners in Beirut and throughout Lebanon can now hear the BBC Arabic Service for two hours every day on the Voice of Lebanon 93.3 FM. Listeners can enjoy BBC Arabic’s flagship news programme Al alam hatha al sabah – The World This Morning – which sets the day’s agenda every morning at 6 am.
Hadeeth Al-Sa’a is the daily programme analysing and discussing key stories in the news at 3 pm. Nuqtat Hewar – Talking Point – enables listeners to share their political, social and sporting views at 6 pm. Visitors to bbcarabic.com can also listen to and participate in Nuqtat Hewar online.
BBC Arabic head Hosam El Sokkari said, “Our partnership with Voice of Lebanon is an important addition to the BBC’s presence in the Arab world. I hope that the availability of BBC programmes, in Arabic, in crystal clear quality, will further expand our listener base in this region.”
Voice of Lebanon CEOc said, “Broadcasting BBC programming in Arabic and English represents an important phase in the growth and development of the Voice of Lebanon. The BBC will complement our already rich source of programming by bringing a wider international news perspective which is valuable in a fast-changing world.”
BBC Arabic programming on the Voice of Lebanon 93.3 FM is the latest development in the BBC’s strategy to increase partnerships in the Arab world.
The BBC Arabic service claims to have 12.5 million listeners in the Middle East and North Africa and can currently be heard on FM in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Palestinian Territories / West Bank and Sudan.
Voice of Lebanon was founded in 1975 and is the first commercial radio station to broadcast in Lebanon.
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.
