GECs
Star-backed private FM station Radio City launching 3 July
The first anniversary of Star India’s flagship channel Star Plus becoming a 24-hour Hindi channel – 3 July – has been chosen as the kick-off date India’s first private FM radio station, Radio City.
Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea confirmed this on the sidelines of a press conference at south Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Hotel celebrating his team’s achievements in taking Star to the top of the satellite television heap.
With Radio City’s scheduled launch in Bangalore, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Star completes all but one part of its “grand vision to become a multimedia company into radio, Internet partnerships, cable partnerships and films.” Film production now remains the only activity that Star is not currently involved with.
Mukerjea is gung ho about the prospects of FM in India and says: “Radio will expand the market significantly. We expect a whole new set of advertisers to enter the field once FM really takes off.”
“I have always been positive about radio,” Mukerjea said, pointing out that in India only 1 per cent of the ad pie went to radio while abroad it was 10-12 per cent. This was what was waiting to be tapped, he said.
Queried on Star’s stake in Radio City, Mukerjea said content, ad sales and marketing support was its responsibility. The PK Mittal-promoted Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd (MBPL) is the licence holder for the new radio station while the operational part is reportedly with Digiwave, a 50:50 JV between Star and the Ispat group.
The radio station was initially christened Radio 1 but the Mumbai-based Mid-Day publishing group raised objections as it held the rights to the name, after which Star plumped for Radio City.
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.
