GECs
Essel Group set to launch interactive gaming channel PlayTV
MUMBAI: Essel Group is launching an interactive and gaming channel PlayTV, the first in the country.
Aiming at a mid-March launch, the channel will telecast games, contests, music, movies, entertainment and lifestyle content. Essel Group director Amit Goenka will head the channel.
PlayTV is being planned with an eye on India’s growing gaming industry. Globally, gaming as an industry stands at $30 billion.
Announcing the launch, Goenka said, “In Asia, PlayTV is a new concept. Globally gaming with a dash of entertainment and lifestyle is a huge market. It is one of the fastest growing TV segment with active viewers involvement and retention. Viewers across the world watch television not only for entertainment but also to draw some tangible benefit from the programme. PlayTV is not restricted to age, gender, skill and competency.”
Along with the regular entertainment content like movies, music and reality shows, PlayTV will provide gaming news, contests, bidding and shopping. The channel will be run on real time basis through SMS, emails and chats.
“We will be telecasting movies, music shows and lifestyle shows as fillers throughout. Contests will be played while shows are running in the background. The gaming shows will be produced in-house,” said Goenka.
When queried if Essel Group’s online lottery Playwin will be incorporated in the channel, Goenka answered in the negative. “Playwin will be there just as an advertiser,” he clarified.
Commenting on the opportunity PlayTV will provide to the corporate sector Goenka added, “Play TV will give opportunity for marketers for interactive advertising and create innovative platform for their target audiences.”
PlayTV will be supported by technology from Cellcast, a UK based company. Cellcast will help PlayTV to set up TV SMS technology and also training and developing personnel in India. Cellcast manages complex communications technologies to deliver and bill for digital entertainment, information and services, to consumers across the globe, informs a company release.
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.
