GECs
Star Gold rides high on ‘Viruddh’ triple premiere
MUMBAI: The triple premiere strategy has worked for Star. Quoting Tam data, Star Gold has claimed that, the Viruddh premiere on 4 December helped it to achieve a channel share of 25.41 per cent against Zee Cinema’s 11.38 per cent and Set Max’s 3.8 per cent (SEC ABC CS4+)
According to an official release, the Tam ratings threw up some interesting findings. The movie shows a well rounded reach with marginally higher skews among the younger (15-24) audience & among SEC A, even though Viruddh content is geared slightly for older audiences. This proves that the Triple Premiere delivered the younger audiences in good numbers – again a feather in the cap for the Network – underlining its appeal among the younger audiences.
Star India EVP Marketing Ajay Vidyasagar commented, “Only the Star network has the strength to deliver these kind of numbers – as we are the only network with three Hindi strong entertainment channels – Star Plus, Star Gold and Star One. We have once again proved to our advertisers the unparalleled opportunity Star offers, by delivering huge numbers as well as the entire spectrum of viewers – and not just any isolated target group.”
Star had unveiled its Triple Premier strategy with the Viruddh premiere. For the first time ever a movie was premiered on three channels (Star Gold, Star plus and Star One) on the same day at different time slots. Audiences, therefore, had three chances to watch the premiere just like the multiple opportunities to catch a movie at a multiplex, the release adds.
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.
