GECs
Star feed back on air for Siti subscribers in Delhi
MUMBAI: Star’s bouquet of channels, which had been off air in the Delhi region for MSO Siticable’s subscribers since 24 January, began beaming again on Thursday in what may well be a temporary truce in an increasingly high stakes turf war.
Since pending dues have been paid up by most Siti JVs (joint venture partners) and suboperators, the feed will be switched back on all across Delhi, Star’s corporate communications head Yash Khanna said. There are only a few suboperators who are still to pay up, Khanna added.
Speaking for the other side, an industry source close to Siti said Star came around not over any dues issue but because the blackout of Star’s feed was hurting their channels’ TRP ratings in the Delhi and Ludhiana (Punjab) areas which in turn was leading to increasing pressures from their advertisers.
The differing statements indicate that the problem is a larger one of how big MSOs and channels conduct business. The present dispute had its roots in the issue of paid connectivity which is a recurring one (recall the recent spat between Sony Entertainment Television and Hathway Cable in which Star has a 26 per cent stake) as well as who the various JVs ally with. Siti has a 35 per cent cable home share in Delhi because of the 77 JVs who are allied to it. At the height of the dispute there was media reports that JVs were defecting to the Star camp, a claim Siti vehemently denied.
Its a war of attrition that is going on and it may well lead to the government stepping in to regulate the whole business.
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.
