GECs
Endemol inks two-year deal with Channel 4 for ‘Deal or No Deal’
MUMBAI: Endemol has inked a two year deal with Channel 4 in the UK for the game show format Deal or No Deal.
The deal runs from January 2006 to December 2007.
Channel 4 has been broadcasting Deal or No Deal in the afternoon slot since October 2005 and has been winning audiences of up to 4.8 million and has a 38 per cent share.
It has consistently been the most watched programme in its slot across all UK channels and won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Daytime Programme last week.
The show has also just achieved an audience of up to five million viewers and a 23.6 per cent share in an additional peak time Saturday night slot on Channel 4. This was also the highest number of viewers across all channels at that time.
Endemol International has now sold the Deal or No Deal format to 45 countries worldwide including the USA where it is a prime time hit for NBC. In India, the show airs on Sony and is hosted by Mandira Bedi.
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.
