GECs
FMI closes 1,200 hours programming sales deal in Asia
MUMBAI: In the last two months, Fremantle Media International (FMI) has closed more than 1,200 hours of programming sales in Asia. On the first day of the Asia TV Forum, the company announced that the deals include many titles from its recently launched Mipcom slate as well as the first ever sale of an Australian drama to a free-to-air channel in the Philippines.
The competitive reality docu-series, The Fashion Fund featuring Anna Wintour, has been sold to two broadcasters in Thailand: free-to-air channel Workpoint TV and pay TV operator TrueVisions. TrueVisions has also acquired the new Hulu original series Behind the Mask, the one-off feature documentary I Am Steve McQueen and the eye-opening factual special, Asteroids: Doomsday or Payday?
Solar Entertainment in the Philippines has bought series one to three of Winners and Losers, making it the first ever free-to-air Philippine network to broadcast an Australian drama. It has also acquired The Fashion Fund, David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal) medical drama Monday Mornings and Web Therapy series three starring Lisa Kudrow.
The Asia team has made light work of racking up deals across Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and The Philippines, packaging some 580 hours alone for Mediacorp’s on-demand platform Toggle.sg. Leading shows across all genres, from entertainment and lifestyle to drama and kids, have also been snapped up by a variety of free-to-air, pay TV and cable channels.
Looks like it is a good time for the Asian market.
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.
