GECs
Star drops bouquet rate to Rs 27; History Channel to be billed separately
MUMBAI: If last year, Star India had linked a 25 per cent drop in subscription rates per subscriber (from Rs 40 to Rs 30) to a 100 per cent increase in declarations, this time round, it is taking a softer line with the cable fraternity.
Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea told indiantelevision.com this evening his network was dropping its per subscriber price by 10 per cent from the current Rs 30 to Rs 27 if cable operators offered a reasonable increase in declarations. While Mukerjea did not specify by how much the cable op would have to increase declarations to avail of the 10 per cent drop in rates, industry sources say Star is seeking a 40 per cent increase in declared connectivity.
Asked about how cable operators were reacting to Star’s new rate plane, Coda (Cable Operators and Distributors Association) president and proprietor of Dattatray Cable Anil Parab said he was yet to get any official notification on the matter. Parab, however, said that the cable operators would probably meet on Friday or Saturday to discuss the issue once they had Star’s proposal in hand.
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta would not be drawn into a comment on how his network would be priced except to state that he expected to reach some decision on the matter by Friday.
Zee Telefilms additional vice-chairman and head of its cable arm Siti Cable Jawahar Goel, while stating he was still awaiting official word from Star on its price, said, “We are distributors of content, including that of Star. If there is any price hike we will pass it on to the consumers.”
Mukerjea, meanwhile, also clarified that the reduced subscrition rate applied only to Star’s current bouquet of channels. The newly added on History Channel, which debuted in India on Sunday (30 November) on the network, would be priced at between Rs 6 and 8, said Mukerjea.
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.
