GECs
TVFilmbiz Int secures b’cast rights for ‘Planet’s Funniest Animals’
CANNES: TvFilmBiz Int’l has secured a long-term agreement for cable and satellite broadcast rights of Planet’s Funniest Animals on Animal Planet worldwide excluding the UK in Cannes.
Animal Planet will also own cable and satellite rights to the series in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa and will begin airing the series following the completion of the terrestrial contracts. The agreement in part gives Animal Planet primary broadcast window rights in the Pan Pacific region and South East Asia.Under the agreement, Animal Planet, excluding the UK, will have rights to the current 146 half hours with options for additional episodes.
TvFilmBiz is a global entertainment distribution company providing targeted audience programming to a wide spectrum of broadcasters, cable and satellite networks, and home entertainment companies.
Planets Funniest Animals is the international hit series from Brad Lachman productions on Animal Planet and is a fast paced tribute to nature’s comic geniuses – animals. Each episode features hilarious clips of animals from sources including home videos, news outtakes, foreign commercials, wildlife bloopers and documentaries.
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.
