GECs
Casbaa, Thai Dept of IP examine pay-TV piracy
MUMBAI: The Royal Thai Governments department of Intellectual property (DIP) and regional pay-TV industry body, the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) , yesterday staged a high-level workshop on Intellectual Property Rights protection in Bangkok Thailand.
Opened by General of the DIP deputy director Boonaris Suwanapool and co-hosted by Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies, the one-day forum attracted speakers from the US, Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The invited delegates included Thai IP court officials, officials from the Attorney Generals office, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Customs and other officials and industry executives with responsibility for creating and enforcing vital intellectual property rights within Thailand.
Those presenting at the seminar included senior executives drawn from broadcasters Time Warner and ESPN Star Sports, European security firm Irdeto, the Motion Picture Association of America (representing the seven major Hollywood studios), global Intellectual property rights legal experts, Herbert Smith and Casbaa (representing 110 pay-TV related companies operating in the Asia Pacific).
One issue highlighted during todays forum was that while Asias pay-TV market is growing rapidly, and making substantial economic contributions, Thailand hasnt been benefiting as much as it should, said Davies. The meeting was in general agreement that this can change with newly pro-active approaches.
Meanwhile, it was claimed that among middle-income Asian countries Thailand remains the market with the worst piracy problem. Three out of every four households connected to Thai pay-TV systems are estimated to be tapping into pirated pay-TV programming. In the end, this damages everyones interests because every level of the value chain is a victim of theft, added Davies.
According to industry estimates, the cost of piracy to the community in Thailand is high to the industry and to the government, which loses at least 2.5 billion baht in taxes, fees and revenues every year, with the problem growing at a rate of about 20 per per year.
Speakers at the seminar generally agreed that while Thailand has made some incremental strides in the battle against Intellectual Property Rights theft, there was a need to create a modern, competitive industry, regulated on a level playing field.
Participants in the seminar looked forward to more effective law enforcement and increasingly severe penalties for pirate cable operators.
The development of effective regulatory agencies will hugely benefit Thailand, a country with proven media sophistication and clear economic achievements, stated Davies.
Its great to have so many of the stakeholders in Thailands pay-TV industry working together at a seminar like this, said Casbaa chairman Marcel Fenez. With the support of the likes of the Department of Intellectual Property and representatives of the IP courts standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the legitimate industry, progress has been made today.
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.
