GECs
ASC’s Punit Goenka elected International Emmy board director
MUMBAI: The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS), New York has unanimously elected ASC Enterprises Ltd group president and CEO Punit Goenka as a director of the Academy.
Touted as the largest organisation of global broadcasters with members from 61 countries and over 250 companies, the Academy announced the appointment at a board meeting held in New York.
A release from Zee informs that Goenka received a letter from the IATAS president Bruce L Paisner confirming the appointment.
Beside informing Goenka about his appointment, the letter also comprises board’s advice on the International Emmy Award rules and regulations as well as the management of the organisation.
Goenka, currently responsible for launching India’s first DTH service under the brand name Dish TV, began his career in 1995 with the Essel Group.
Son of media mogul Subhash Chandra, Goenka has also been with ASC Enterprises Limited for over five years, previously as vice president co-ordination and operations, and now as the group president and CEO.
ASC Enterprises is a moving force behind ACL (Agrani Convergence Limited) a retail chain of choice for convergent TIME products and services (TIME: Telecommunications, Information, Learning, Media and Entertainment) and India’s largest Radio Trunking company.
Punit was also instrumental in launching Zee group’s Hindi music channel Zee Music.
As for IATAS, founded in 1969 to promote excellence in international television programming, the New York based Academy produces the iEmmys festival and International Emmy Awards. Held at New York city, in the month of November every year, the awards ceremony is established to recognise the best television programs produced.
The Academy foundation also oversees a number of professional educational programmes for the global television industry, says the release.
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.
