GECs
Discovery Travel & Living focuses on weekday prime time
MUMBAI: Discovery Travel & Living India is bringing about some strategic changes in its prime time programming. According to the channel’s quarterly plan, the focus is on promoting appointment viewing in the prime time band.
As per the Q1 plan, the channel has launched its Theme Week series in the Monday to Friday 9 pm time slot. During the last six-week period, the programme has already covered themes such as hotels, beaches, food, adventure, wellbeing and lifestyle.
According to Discovery Networks India vice president- Lifestyle Networks Aditya Tripathi, the series will cover topics such as fashion, romance, cooking and incredible India in the coming weeks. Speaking on the response from advertisers, Tripathi said the series had got an encouraging response.
“We have signed advertisers such as L’Oreal, Motorola, Diet Pepsi, Nokia, Nestle Kit Kat and Wrigley’s for various theme weeks coming as part of the Theme Series. More deals are being negotiated. We are promoting the initiative through print advertising and on-air promotions,” says Tripathi.
Discovery Travel & Living has also commissioned two series of Indian programming. “We hope to air our first commission in the second or third quarter of 2006,” comments Tripathi.
The next in the Theme Week series line up, Project Runway, deals with the fashion industry. Slotted for 6 to10 February, the show is hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. The reality series gives twelve talented fashion designers the opportunity to have their line shown in front of the global fashion community at New York’s Fall Fashion Week.
The winner will also receive $100,000 to launch his or her own line, as well as an esteemed mentorship with Banana Republic. They will also have the chance to have their designs photographed for Elle by the magazine’s world-renowned publication director, Gilles Bensimon.
“Amongst the first three weeks, Beach Week and Planet Food Week have performed the best. Besides the ongoing advertising deals for the 9 pm slot, L’Oreal, Motorola and Diet Pepsi have been exclusively signed for Project Runway Week,” adds Tripathi.
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.
