GECs
Star launches 5 Indian, 2 international channels in Japan
MUMBAI: Star is setting its sights on the Land of the Rising Sun. But it is not the Japanese populace but expatriate Indians the News Corp network is principally targeting with the launch there of seven of its channels on new IPTV and community platform “World on Demand” (WoD).
Star today announced it had entered into a deal with Tokyo based The New Media Group (TNMG), which owns and operates WoD, to provide five Indian channels and two international channels in Japan.
On WoD, Star has launched Star Plus, Star One, Star News, Star Utsav and Vijay, along with Sky News and Fox News.
According to an official release, through the launch of WoD (www.worldondemand.net), TNMG will provide popular media offerings to targeted user communities, offering them more choice and the freedom to access what they want to see and the opportunity to interact with other WoD users.
WoD users can watch the Star channels and communicate in real-time with others on the IPTV and community platform.
Commenting on the launch, Star vice president advertising sales and distribution Japan Deane Sadler said, “We are excited to expand our channel offering to viewers in Japan through TNMG’s World on Demand IPTV platform. By partnering with TNMG, East Asian communities in Japan can now enjoy Star’s innovative and record-breaking Indian programming that their fellow countrymen see everyday back home. They can also catch top-rated news programming from the US and the UK on Fox News and Sky News respectively.”
“The right formula is to be multiplatform in delivery, and to be community-oriented in marketing,” said TNMG president Randy McGraw. “By delivering recognized brands to users while offering the best interactive tools and most convenient billing options available, users have both flexibility and a true community platform. At World On Demand, users can watch Star News, for example, and chat or IM their groups in real-time while they watch the latest breaking news from India, or send valuable information back to Star about the award-winning dramas on Star Plus. How powerful is that?”
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.
