GECs
Club TV concept introduced with launch of in-house channel Fire & Ice Weekend TV
Fire & Ice, the popular nightclub in Mumbai’s Parel suburb, now has its own in-house channel. Launched last Friday as Fire & Ice Weekend TV, the name given is because content is being developed over the weekend and the programmes are subsequently played throughout the week.
The content changes on a weekly basis. It is essentially in-house TV with music videos being played on the screen. “Though you won’t get to hear what is being played as the DJ is playing music of his own, you can read interesting tidbits and background about the concerned artiste rolling at the bottom of the screen,” says Clyde D’Souza, president of Immersive Television, which produces the content for the channel. “You can also check out the action at foreign nightclubs, which have their own brand of merchandising – like leather jackets. For instance Ministry of Sound in the U.K.,” D’Souza said.
D’Souza calls the concept “club TV” and hopes to take it to discos across India. D’Souza pointed out that international sponsors have already shown interest and the ads for sponsors are done in an innovative manner. Citing an example, he said the ads for popular soft drinks have three-dimensional images “which kind of interact with the viewer and is a welcome change from the dry and drab audio video commercial.”
The programming block also covers a wide array of events. From the Ritu Beri fashion show in Paris to the just-concluded Love Parade in Germany. There is also a small movie section where trailers of Hollywood films are shown along with the top three recommendations. The trailers are outsourced from film companies abroad. Adventure sports like bungee jumping are also featured.
D’Souza said there was also an interactive element involved. For this he has tied up with UK-based OpenTV, the leading interactive television and media solutions company. However, before rolling out the service, he was waiting to see what kind of set top boxes would be introduced. D’Souza said he had the expertise to develop the content for interactive television but there were still some final technicalities to be resolved.
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.
