GECs
NTO 2.0: Zeel announces new a-la-carte channel and bouquet pricing
Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has released its new a-la-carte channel and bouquet pricing in line with the Bombay high court order dated 30 June 2021 with regard to new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.
“The said pricing is being released without prejudice to Zeel’s rights and contentions under all petitions pending adjudication before the Supreme Court w.r.t. new tariff order (NTO) 2.0,” said a Zeel spokesperson.
The new channel rate card will be effective from 1 December.
According to the channel rate card, Zeel standard definition channels including Hindi GEC Zee TV, Marathi GEC Zee Marathi, Bengali GEC Zee Bangla, Odia GEC Zee Sarthak, Telugu GEC Zee Telugu, Kannada GEC Zee Kannada have been priced greater than Rs 12.
Among its high-definition channels, Zee TV HD, Zee Marathi HD, Zee Bangla HD, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Cinemalu HD, and Zee Kannada HD also have an MRP greater than Rs 12.
As per new tariff regime 2.0 order, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has mandated that a channel’s MRP must not exceed Rs 12 for it to be included in any bouquet. The aforementioned channels will not be part of any of Zeel’s 26 bouquets.
“We are confident that post implementation of NTO 2.0, Zee channels will continue their growth momentum across markets and create higher value for the company,” said Zeel president – business for South Asia Rahul Johri.
“The new pricing regime in 2019 brought in a major shift in the way television was consumed in India,” said Zeel chief revenue officer – affiliate sales Atul Das. “On one hand, it brought in transparency about MRP of channels, while on the other hand it offered freedom to consumers to select channels they wish to watch. With NTO 2.0, consumers will get even more flexibility in the selection of channels.”
“We will continue to provide multiple bouquets to consumers across the country at different price points. Premium English channels like Zee Café and &flix will continue to be available in a separate bouquet. Each bouquet constitutes a mix of channels, including GEC, movies, news, music and lifestyle genres. We look forward to working with our Distribution Platform Operators (DPO) partners for a smooth transition,” he added.
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.
