GECs
Sony bags global TV rights for ‘Holland Cup’
MUMBAI: The big India cricketing properties for 2004 are getting sewn up. If ESPN Star Sports has won television broadcast rights for the first big cricket tournament after the Indo-Pak series, next month’s Asia Cup, Sony Entertainment Television is not going to be left behind.
Sony has won the global telecast rights for the still-to-be-titled tri-nation tournament featuring three of the biggest draws in cricket — Australia, India and Pakistan. The “Holland Cup” will be played out at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, between 22 and 29 August. The format of this tourney is such that there will be only four matches, including the final.
Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that the likely title sponsor for the event will be white goods major Videocon. All the matches will be played at 10:30 am local time which translates to 2 pm India time, the same timings that a Day-Night ODI in India would have.
And the acquisition costs? Industry sources estimate the rights cost to be about $ 3 million.
When contacted, MAX executive vice president and business head Rajat Jain, refused to be drawn into a comment on whether Sony had the rights.
Repeated attempts to contact SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta regarding the same proved unsuccessful.
For Sony, the Holland Cup provides the ideal curtain raiser to its big ticket event of 2004, the Champions Trophy, which is being hosted by England from 10-25 September. The Holland Cup would likely provide marketing and distribution build-up opportunities in much the same way the Champions Trophy in 2002 was the “lead-in” to the World Cup in March 2003.
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.
