GECs
Live shows pep up Zee Music ratings
MUMBAI: Looks like live shows have given Zee Music a much needed shot in the arm.
The channel claims that ever since they started airing their live music request show Please toh play and the musical extravaganza at Water Kingdom Aaja Nachle, the ratings have been steadily climbing.
The channel brand line ‘Sound of India’ has been adorning the city skylines for some time now and it has also been active on the on-ground promotion in the interiors of the country. The marketing and promotions push could be one of the reasons why the channel is doing well.
While it is a no-brainer that live shows help boost ratings, the channel isn’t taking it for granted. So, while the talks are on for a couple more ground events and reality shows, the channel is all set to launch a slew of programmes in weeks to come. The channel will soon be announcing sms based Seniora in the afternoon slot and an astrology shows.
According to the TAM ratings data, the channel share has increased by four per cent, the channel claims to have the maximum gain followed by etc in the weeks when the Aaja Nachle was aired.
| Channel | week 19 | week 18 | week 17 | week 16 | week 15 | week 14 |
| Zee Music | 0.49 | 0.39 | 0.4 | 0.36 | 0.32 | 0.21 |
| B4U Music | 0.09 | 0.1 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| ETC | 0.42 | 0.34 | 0.3 | 0.32 | 0.39 | 0.35 |
| MTV | 0.18 | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.32 | 0.33 | 0.22 |
| Channel V | 0.18 | 0.13 | 0.26 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.17 |
| CMM | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.04 |
The target audience for the study is the Hindi speaking band. Surprisingly neither Please toh Play or Aaja Nachle are the top shows. But the channel is happy with the kind of response it is garnering nevertheless.
“Not only have we seen rise in our TRPs, the event Aaja Nachle has doubled the the picnickers at Water World too. Earlier, about 8000 people visited Water World on Sundays. Since the event has debuted, it has grown upto 15000, ” offered Zee Music programming and brand head Niyati Shah.
As for the on-air programming Shah offers that it has been as success as they have managed to get in all the acts. “We have signed on more sponsors for that particular slot. Earlier we just had two, now we have four: Dermi Cool, Zandu, Live-in and Try me,” she gushes.
The channel might be hush-hush on this one, but some heavy-duty ground events and a big-budget talent hunt is in the offing. Till then its get jiggy with Zee Music…
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.
