GECs
MTV swings Iglesias concert broadcast partner deal away from [V]
MUMBAI: MTV has just taken the wind out of Channel [V]’s sails regarding next month’s Enrique Iglesias concert. In a deal that was stitched together last week with event organiser DNA Networks, MTV is now the broadcast partner for the event.
It may be recalled that when the press conference to announce the concert details was called earlier this month, it had been declared that Channel [V] was the broadcast partner. In fact the Star Group music channel had even planned a contest around the same wherein participants stood to win backstage passes for the event. The concerts will take place on Sunday 11 April at the MMRDA Grounds in the west Mumbai suburb of Bandra and on 13 April in Bangalore. Ticket sales for the concerts have commenced from today.
DNA Networks has confirmed the development to indiantelevision.com. However the company’s MD T. Venkat Vardhan could not be reached for his comments on the reasons for the switch.
When contacted, [V]’s head honcho Amar Deb claimed the channel had decided to back out of the deal as it was not commercially viable. “DNA Networks was unable to meet certain commitments which had been promised. Therefore we decided to call it a day,” Deb said.
MTV’s senior V-P marketing Vikram Raizada said that MTV had tied up for Iglesias’ 7 Tour not just in India but also in Jakarta, Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila.
“The biggest artistes be it Bryan Adams, Roger Walters hang out with us. Enrique will be our most wanted artiste in April. We have started beaming on air specials around him. One of them is the making of the video. There will also be music blasts of him in shows like MTV Graveyard Shift.
“We will be unveiling a contest shortly. This will give seven people the chance to get up close and personal with him. Our on ground events will roll out after 1 April. This is how we usually conduct promotions around our shows. We will have posters at youth hangouts like Barista. Our VJs will also be travelling to youth hangouts along with the other sponsors of the event. Passes will be handed out. This will basically be a hangout crawl. We will air excerpts from the concert a month after the event has taken place.”
Raizada added that the broadcaster had also tied up with Q Jam, the electronic jukeboz franchise. Q Jam has around 100 installations across the country at Caf Coffee Day outlets. DNA Networks has already commenced a robust campaign in the outdoor, print and below the line areas.
The gates at the concert venues open at 6:30 pm and the shows will commence at 7:30 pm. The tickets to the show in Mumbai are priced at Rs 1,200 and Rs 800 while the tickets to the show in Bangalore are priced at Rs 600 and Rs 900. Tickets are being sold at all Caf Coffee Day and Planet M outlets. Fans can also have their tickets home delivered by booking their tickets online at www.dnanetworks.com or over the phone by calling 56680088 in Mumbai and 25522622 in Bangalore.
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.
