GECs
BARC meets industry in Kolkata; suggests third vendor
KOLKATA: The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has clarified that its technical committee’s evaluation panel plans to appoint three vendors (read three, not two as reported by us on 7 August (Evaluation of RFPs for BARC to be held from 14 August). The first is the technical partner, the second is the panel management partner and the third will conduct the establishment study for the proposed new television ratings system. BARC has announced that the new TV ratings systems should start spewing out viewership ratings by May or June of 2014. The committee, as reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, had earlier accepted applications from 27 organisations, of the 32 RFP responses that it had received.
Once the new TV ratings system is in place, the industry body will also float another tender for a fourth vendor for taking up quality and analytics studies.
BARC TechComm member Paritosh Joshi made this clarification at the third of its open houses held in Kolkata on Thursday.
20 professionals representing broadcasters, advertisers and agencies attended the meet hosted in which BARC shared the progress it has made so far. Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Havas Media, Zee Media, BPN India and TV Today were amongst the media companies that turned up in the Kolkata leg of BARC’s national city roadshow exercise to connect with industry. BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta and vice president Mubin Khan were also present to interact with industry.
“The priority for now is getting the best and biggest vendors. We are currently ensuring that metering, establishment and technology contracts are well managed,” says Dasgupta.
The fourth vendor for quality and analysis will take time and Joshi said BARC might get into the selection process in November.
Havas Media senior general manger Raj Dutta, who was a part of the roadshow says, “I was expecting something new. Things were presented in a sketchy format. There is not much clarity about the rural audience. However with different organisations engaged in the measurement system, there would be complete transparency.”
BPN India executive vice president Mahesh Motwani added, “Given the technological advances, the time was right for this initiative. It will map the diverse and rapidly changing Indian media landscape and provide a deeper connect and understanding of the consumer to Indian television.”
Regional broadcasters have for long been pushing for an independent audience measurement system. “This will help them improve their bottom-line, going forward,” say media analysts. “With robust measurement and data, all genres and languages can expect a boost as far as media planners understanding of consumption of their content is concerned.”
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.
