GECs
Star Bharat aims to expand its reach within HSM: Kevin Vaz
Mumbai: There was a buzz about Star Bharat’s revamp when many shows including “Meri Gudiya” and “Kartik Purnima” were axed during the lockdown. Now, in a conversation with IndianTelevision.com, Disney Star head for network entertainment channels Kevin Vaz confirms that with a new content lineup, the channel is gradually shifting towards its new concept philosophy of romance-laden family entertainment shows.
“With new content lineup, Star Bharat is aiming to expand its reach to a larger Hindi speaking market (HSM). The channel already has a loyal viewer base in Delhi, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. We will commission new shows along this line targeting more Hindi speaking states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Some part of Bihar, Rajasthan etc,” Vaz highlights.
After Start Plus, Star Bharat is the second-largest Hindi GEC from the aegis of Star with a stronghold in the three largest Hindi-speaking markets – Delhi, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. And with its revamp plan, the channel is all set to grab more eyeballs from viewers as well as advertisers.
Star Bharat announces ‘Swayamavar: Mika Di Vohti’ to amp up programming lineup
Throwing some light on their content strategy to fulfill their goal to reach a larger audience, Vaz says that the channel has no plans to stick to a particular genre. Rather they are aiming to establish Star Bahrat as a light-entertainment hotspot that offers something interesting to all age groups but romance and entertainment will remain the central theme for all programmes.
“With our recent launches ‘Woh Toh Hai Albela’ and ‘Swayamvar: Mika Di Vohti,’ we have demonstrated that Star Bahrat will have a mix of shows themed on romance and entertainment,” he shares.
Adding onto his statement, Vaz says that based on their research they have identified romance as a central theme and we can expect future launches crafted around the romance theme.
Last month the channel launched “Woh Toh Hai Albela”- a show already creating a buzz in the market, followed by their recent launch “Swayamavar: Mika Ki Voti.” The channel is also planning to launch “Gud Se Meetha Ishq” and “Kall Bhairav” in the coming months.
“If we take a deep look at the shows being launched, it can be said that the channel is keeping love as its basic theme but the content is full of variety,” he says, adding that, “We have just begun with fresh content. We have more shows in the pipeline which will add value to its bouquet of content in the next six months,” he further adds.
While the sponsors and advertisers are not yet revealed for the upcoming programming, it is expected that this expansion of content bouquet will help Star Bharat become a new favorite for advertisers across categories.
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.
