GECs
AOLTW to shorten name by getting rid of AOL tag
MUMBAI: A little over two and a half years have gone by since internet company America Online merged with Time Warner. Now the chickens have come home to roost as far as the online unit is concerned.
AOL Time Warner is all set to get rid of the AOL moniker which has proven to be a source of embarrasement for the executives of Time Warner. A board meeting will take place tomorrow which is expected to put the name change into effect. While AOL’s boss Jon Miller has been arguing for a name change since last month all the problems stem from his division. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com in July while Time Warner reported strong second-quarter earnings AOL’s operating income was reduced by 23 per cent to $210 million from $247 million. AOL lost 846,000 subscribers in the quarter, more than analysts were expecting. Adding to Time Warner’s woes was the fact that the Securities and Exchange Commission found problems with AOL’s accounting of two deals with Germany’s Bertelsmann.
The company will now go back to its pre-merger stock ticker of TWX, change all its signs and corporate stationary. It will rename its new headquarters at Columbus Circle the Time Warner building. The company will start occupying the building in March.
Meanwhile a CNNmoney report indicates that since the merger the company has lost $200 billion of market value. Employees’ retirement accounts have been destroyed.
In related news despite negotiations to merge with BMG, AOL Time Warner is eyeing a sale of a majority stake in Warner Music to EMI. EMI made a $3.5 billion offer for Warner Music’s recorded music business earlier this year, but was rejected. The New York Post reports that there is market speculation that EMI’s sale of $243 million in convertible bonds was made to secure financing for another aim at Warner. Negotiations between Warner and BMG have slowed down because the two companies use different accounting methods.
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.
