GECs
Postpone 12-minute ad cap deadline to Dec 2014: I&B minister Manish Tewari
MUMBAI: He could well be labeled the messiah of the broadcasting industry if his suggestion is heeded. Minister of Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari has recommended that the 12 minute per clock hour advertising cap deadline be moved ahead to December 2014 from 1 October 2013 suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. (TRAI)
“The final phase of India’s cable TV digitization is likely to be over by September 2014,” he is reported to have said. “And the broadcast industry would be in a position to generate a substantial dividend from the digitized cable TV ecosystem which could well compensate them for the loss of air time revenues on account of the reduction in advertising air time. We, at the I&B, have hence suggested to the TRAI that ad air time reduction should follow the completion of digitization.”
TRAI had in May 2013 mandated that general entertainment TV channels (GECs) and news TV channels should reduce their advertising air time per hour to 16 minutes and 20 minutes respectively from 1 July 2013 and to 12 minutes by 1 October 2013. The reason: GECs were booking and telecasting around 18-20 of ads per hour while for news channels the figure was 25-30 minutes. The advertising clutter was resulting in a poor viewing experience for TV watchers; hence TRAI had ordered the broadcast ecosystem to cut back around a year ago, but had delayed enacting the order until to May 2013.
Broadcasters – specially news TV channels – had immediately protested this move, saying it could impact their financial viability. The news channels had also asked the Telecom Disputes Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to intervene a month or so ago after the headless body found itself a chief.
However, both GECs and news channels had – for the large part – complied with the TRAI ad cap mandate and reduced their air time to 16 minutes and 20 minutes from 1 July 2013. The major Indian GECs had managed to increase their advertising air-time rates between 12-30 per cent, but news channels have said this has been difficult for them. They have also complained that high cable TV carriage fees have been a drain on their resources.
The ball is now in TRAI’s court. Will it concur with the minister and his ministry’s recommendation? Will it do so for only the news TV channels or for all genres? Will the other genres of TV channels accept the largesse being doled out to the news channels alone? Will they also join the chorus and implore the government to help them out too? Questions that beg answers!
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.
