GECs
After Trendz, Zee to add more channels to bouquet
NEW DELHI: Zee Telefilms today announced the launch of Trendz, a 24-hour fashion and style channel from 1 May (reported first by indiantelevision.com on Friday). Subhash Chandra’s network plans to add more such channels to the Zee Turner bouquet, the aim being to be able to offer viewers of its DTH service something extra.
“We are definitely looking at adding some more channels to the bouquet,” Zee Turner chief executive Sunil Khanna said today at a press conference to announce the launch of Trendz, a “global brand that is being built by Zee.”
According to Khanna, who is slated to head the DTH initiative of Zee, the group has also decided to get more recent titles for Zee MGM and build up the brand rather than introduce a new movie brand, something that was talked about after HBO moved out of the Zee Turner bouquet to One Alliance.
Khanna also sounded confident that the group’s proposed DTH service should be up and running by July-August. “The work on the infrastructure is going on (at Noida on the outskirts of Delhi from where the Zee channels uplink) and we hope to be on air by August,” he said.
Khanna also said that over the next few days Zee would be signing a letter of intent with a vendor for the subscriber management system for CAS and DTH.
Meanwhile, the international programming for Trendz – that would be 100 per cent to begin with – has been sourced from Video Fashion Network of the US and over a period of time Indian content too would be introduced, Khanna said.
Can it be India’s answer to FTV? Well nobody at Zee is ready to hold forth on this, but the success of FTV – controversies surrounding it notwithstanding – even in India, probably, could be a reason behind investing ina fashion and style channel.
“Given the channel focus and the opportunity that conditional access and DTH will open up for niche channels like Trendz, we are confident that it will emerge a leading source of infotainment for the fashion conscious Indian audience,” Zee Telefilms director Deb Naganand said.
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.
