GECs
CinemaNow Japan initiates pay-per-view movie service with Warner Brothers
MUMBAI: CinemaNow Japan Inc., a joint venture between CinemaNow Inc., Tokyo-based Transcosmos and Microsoft, has announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. International Television to make movies available for download via its Web site (www.cinemanow.jp) on a pay-per-view and subscription basis.
“This groundbreaking agreement is a great accomplishment for CinemaNow Japan and will deliver a first-of-its-kind service to the burgeoning Japanese market,” CinemaNow CEO and chairman of CinemaNow Japan Curt Marvis says. “It marks another major step forward in CinemaNow’s mission to build a truly global distribution network that reaches localized markets.”
As part of the agreement, Warner Bros. International Television will offer hit titles like Ocean’s Twelve and Constantine, as well as library titles ranging from Rebel Without a Cause to the original Batman movie. These titles will be available via CinemaNow Japan’s unique subscription service, which offers any user with a broadband Internet connection the ability to download films on an unlimited basis and watch them anytime, anywhere, for as long as they are a subscriber, states an official release.
“Leveraging CinemaNow’s unmatched operational experience, technical expertise, and growing content portfolio, CinemaNow Japan was able to quickly establish itself as a leading online video-on-demand service,” said Toshiyuki Tomii, president of CinemaNow Japan. “With the addition of Warner Bros. International Televisions content, CinemaNow Japan will offer its broadband users a high-quality, easy-to-use, on-demand entertainment experience that is unmatched in the marketplace.”
CinemaNow Japan’s new monthly subscription option will also offer access to hundreds of videos in total for only 1,480 Yen ($12). In addition, users can choose to download and watch any of the videos on a pay-per-view basis for as low as 250 Yen ($2) per film for 48 hours access, the release adds.
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.
