GECs
PanAmSat expands agreement with CCTV
MUMBAI: China Central Television (CCTV) has signed a multi-year expansion agreement with PanAmSat for the distribution of its premium programming to Western Africa. The new contract enables CCTV to expand the geographic reach of its programming to millions more viewers around the world.
“CCTV is an international broadcasting powerhouse, reaching viewers worldwide via five PanAmSat satellites. As PanAmSat has grown, so has our relationship with CCTV,” PanAmSat Asia Pacific V-P David Ball said. “We look forward to continuing our support of CCTV’s global expansion and growth with our highly reliable and technologically advanced fleet.”
CCTV has been a PanAmSat customer since the launch of the company’s PAS-2 satellite in 1994. PanAmSat currently provides full-time program distribution services for CCTV via the Company’s PAS-1R Atlantic Ocean Region satellite, PAS-8 Pacific Ocean Region satellite, PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite and PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellites.
PanAmSat also provides CCTV with capacity on its Galaxy 3C satellite for direct-to-home (DTH) services in the United States. CCTV uses PanAmSat’s teleports in Napa, California and Atlanta, Georgia for satellite downlinks, standard conversions, multiplexing and satellite uplinks. This new agreement is for capacity on the Ku-band payload of the PAS-1R satellite.
“PanAmSat’s global fleet has enabled us to deliver our programming beyond China to viewers around the world,” CCTV V-P He Zong Jiu said. “As PanAmSat has expanded its global services, we have been able to utilize the greater power and coverage for the efficient and economical distribution of our global programming.”
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.
