GECs
KTV refutes Raj TV claim to No 2 slot
MUMBAI: The Sun Network has hit back at Raj TV’s claims of having cornered the number two position in Tamil Nadu.
Reacting to a publicised ad pitch made by Raj TV, citing the airing of blockbusters on Friday nights as the reason why ratings for the channel have shot up, KTV, the younger sibiling of Sun TV has retaliated, terming the Raj TV exercise a ‘case of one programme syndrome’. Raj Television Network head – national sales, B Shankar had said last week that the film Kalatpaadai aired on its “Friday Blockbuster” slot (named as Velli Minnalgal) on the night of 4 April 2003 (8:01 pm) had placed the channel at No. 2 in Chennai and Tamil Nadu in the cable and satellite (C&S) homes. “It got a TVR of 6.88 in the C&S 4 years plus in Chennai,” Shankar had claimed.
KTV’s marketing head Saravanan however has hit back, saying, “A channel standing can be determined only by its overall ratings and the average share it has during the prime and the non-prime hours on all days of the week. A mere one programme at any of the slots suitable to a channel can only reflect one good programme of that channel. Just because that one particular programme happens to edge past the programme in the same time slots in other channels do not mean you have edged past a channel.”
“A movie viewership is purely title driven and it is very difficult for a channel like Raj TV with very limited number of good titles to slot good movies on a continuous basis. In such a scenario, whatever you gain from one title will not be the same with other titles,” he says.
According to Saravanan, TAM ratings for the week 6 April to 12 April show that-
* Under the three segments Chennai, TN 1 lakh to 10 lakh towns and TN 10 lakh + towns which cover the entire Tamil Nadu viewership (C&S) , KTV has an audience share of 11 per cent in Chennai,10 per cent in TN 1 to 10 Lakhs and 14 per cent in TN 10 L + where as Raj TV scores 8 per cent, 6 per cent and 7 per cent. The category is C& S 4+ years, which determines the overall viewership of a channel and reflect the channel standing.
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.
