GECs
CETV secures limited China broadcast rights
MUMBAI: AOL Time Warner has announced that its Mandarin-language China Entertainment Television Broadcast (CETV) channel has won a limited nationwide broadcast licence.
CETV will be distributed from China’s central satellite platform via Sino Satellite. CETV, which was earlier limited to about one million households in southern China, will now also be available on additional cable TV systems in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, doubling its penetration in those two cities to more than two million homes.
Besides CETV, 30 foreign channels earlier won approval to broadcast to three-star or higher-rated hotels, foreign compounds and other select areas in the mainland.
CETV sees this as a chance for an increase in viewership of programmes. AOL said CETV’s advertising revenues had increased 470 per cent year-on-year from the fourth quarter of 2001. Of course this hardly means anything since the base from which these projections have been made are pretty small.
It is one of the four channels that have both landing rights in southern China and hotels and other specified venues. The others are Xingkong Weishi, Phoenix Chinese and the Movie channels. These are all directly or indirectly controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
