GECs
Star Gold to get new look from 3 November
MUMBAI: If there is one factor that is a constant in the broadcast sector it is change. With viewership increasingly getting fragmented if a channel doesn’t keep up with the times it runs the risk of losing eyeballs and stagnating. Keeping this in mind the Star Group is all set to revamp its Star Gold channel from 3 November.
After three years of pushing itself as the channel for the Bollywood buff nostalgic for the hits of yesteryear the channel has finally decided that it is time to move on. This is not surprising considering that black and white films are available in a limited quantity and most viewers especially those in the crucial 25-35 age group want films that have a contemporary feel that they can easily identify with. Earlier the channel used to target those over the age of 35.
One of the major attractions viewers can now look forward to is popular Hollywood films shown in the national language. These will air every Saturday from 9 November at 8 pm. They straddle genres from comedy Chocolat, martials arts Fists of Fury and suspense thriller Rich Mans wife. The concept is innovative and should help the channel notch up healthy ratings as Star Gold is the first Hindi channel to zoom in on the concept.
Modern Hindi blockbusters that one can look forward to include Biwi No 1, Raja Hindustani, Raaz, and Ajnabee. The new look also extends to the music programmes, quiz shows which will feature tunes and questions from the 1990’s.
The channel is also looking to target different sections of viewers. So a woman’s slot will be introduced in the afternoon. There will also be a kids slot once a week.
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.
