GECs
GST relief for media industry in the offing?
NEW DELHI: There may be some relief for the media industry for certain segments in the offing relating to goods and services tax (GST) with the government open to reviewing certain norms.
According to government sources, petitions from the media and entertainment industry has moved the government to review norms relating to sponsorship services by corporates and other bodies where reverse charge mechanism was not allowed.
Reverse charge mechanism (RCM), which is one of the contentious issues raised late last year by some of the TV channels, has now been suspended until 30 June 2018 according to the sources. The government is also looking at instituting a group of ministers (GoM) to look into RCM and its relevance in GST.
GST, which was welcomed by most sections of the Indian business, has, however, resulted in increased paperwork and spends on manpower for most media companies.
Earlier, it had been envisaged that GST — dubbed as one nation, one tax by the PM Modi government — would reduce the taxation burden on corporate houses and reduce multiplicity of taxes. It had also been envisaged that taxation on entertainment, cable and DTH services would come down under the GST regime as the entertainment tax levied by states would be subsumed in the GST.
However, after GST was rolled out from April 2018, most companies, including those in the media and entertainment sector, realised that GST compliance came with a price and, subsequently, a few states like Punjab have gone on to levy entertainment tax, which, in a way, has neutralised many of the benefits of GST.
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GST: TV prod biz bemoans lack of clarity and increased paperwork
Under GST, taxes on cable, DTH & entertainment services to come down
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.
