GECs
Sony slots crime thrillers for 10:30 pm
MUMBAI: If you can’t beat them, try something distinctly different. That seems to be the tack Sony has decided upon as regards the 10:30 pm slot, which is currently in programming limbo land as far as the channel is concerned.
Come December 20 and Sony is all set to launch CID Special Bureau and another crime based thriller in the 10:30 pm band titled Rihaee that will together run from Mondays through to Thursdays. The strategy appears to be, rather than trying to take Hindi entertainment’s queen of soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi on Star Plus head on, offer the viewer something completely different.
Building on the success the channel has received from its stellar show CID, the channel is launching a different series that takes the hit crime thriller to a different level. Called CID Special Bureau, it is slotted on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30 pm starting 20 December .
Wednesdays and Thursdays will see Rihaee another crime based show at 10:30 pm, the launch of this is slotted for 22 December, reliable industry sources have confirmed to indiantelevision.com.
Giving the two shows that extra push will be Sony’s current top rated show Indian Idol. The channel has incorporated 10 minute capsules of Idol throughout the week at 7:55 pm and 10:30 pm. These two shows are expected to benefit from the tune-in’s these capsules generate for the channel.
When contacted for further details, Sony officials, however, refused comment.
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.
