GECs
Chandra confident of bagging India rights
NEW DELHI: “I don’t expect anything otherwise (than getting the India cricket telecast rights),” is how Zee Telefilms CMD chooses to put it when queried about the continuing suspense around the issue.
As things stand currently, the announcement by the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) as to who gets the live television and radio broadcast rights for international cricket to be played in India for the next four years, is expected to be made after the BCCI’s crucial working committee meeting in Kolkata on 5 September. This is when board supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya will announce whether it is highest bidder Zee or highest “legitimate” bidder ESPN Star Sports (as the sports broadcaster describes itself) that gets to keep the most coveted prize on Indian broadcaster television today.
Queried as to whether Zee had sent in the clarifications sought by the BCCI (the reason Dalmiya had given for not awarding the rights at the working committee meeting of 17 August), Chandra had this to say: “I have no information of the BCCI seeking any clarification from Zee Telefilms as of now.”
Chandra also sought to play down reports of Turner International Asia Pacific, an AOL Time Warner group company, having made a proposal for jointly floating a global sports channel. “It is just an exploratory letter that has come to us from Time Warner so I cannot comment on the matter at the moment,” Chandra said.
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.
