GECs
ATN International brings ATN Bangla to Canada
MUMBAI: Canada’s South Asian broadcaster Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) has announced its plans to bring Bangladesh’s Bangla television channel ATN Bangla to Canada.
ATN Bangla, owned by Dhaka-based Multi Media Production Co. Ltd., offers movies, news, sports, dramas, variety and religious programmes.
Since there is a significant Bengali speaking community in Canada from Bangladesh and India, this channel is therefore expected to draw a dedicated subscriber base, said an official statement.
ATN owns and operates six television channels across Canada and has been awarded 16 more digital television licenses by the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC). According to the official statement, the company has plans to launch more digital channels in the near future.
ATN added NDTV’s English-language news channel NDTV 24×7 and the Hindi spiritual channel Aastha TV to its line-up recently. Other broadcasters it has programming alliances with include Zee TV, B4U, Sony Entertainment Television, Alpha Punjabi, Jaya TV and ARY Digital.
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.
