GECs
Bangla Music channel launched, in tie up with Saregama for videos
MUMBAI: Several Bengali language channels have recently hit the market, fighting for space in an expanding environment. The latest is Bangla Music Television, floated by UK-based SG Dastagir.
The company has tied up with Saregama India to have access to the music company’s Bengali audio library. Bangla Music will be allowed to produce exclusive videos from this library and show them on the channel. Saregama will have the rights to jointly distribute them worldwide.
“We have joined hands with Saregama to provide exclusive content for the channel. We will be able to give our viewers access to one of the largest and most exclusive Bengali music repertoires in the world,” says Dastagir.
Bangla Music has launched on the Telstra 10 (Apstar 2R) satellite on the global beam as a free to air channel covering India, Bangladesh, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Australia, Japan and a major part of China. The channel also plans to launch in UK on the BSkyB direct-to-home (DTH) platform, Europe and the US.
The company plans to invest around Rs 500 million in the first phase. In Kolkata, it is being carried on Cablecom network. But it has yet to sign up with SitiCable and Manthan, the two largest MSOs in the state.
Bangla Music will have to play catch up with Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide’s Tara Muzik, a Bengali music channel which also airs telefilms. The Bengali market recently saw the launch of Star News’ Bengali sibling Star Ananda on 1 June while Sun Network is planning to launch Surjo in September.
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.
