GECs
Star, Siti trade charges over channel blackout in Delhi
Officials in Star Television and the Zee group affiliated MSO Siti Cable made conflicting statements on Thursday a day after a row over Star’s channels being blacked out in New Delhi threatened to snowball.
Siti accused Star of trying to cash in on the unprecedented success of its hit game show Kaun Banega Crorepati to increase subscription rates and force operators to pay for “unpopular” pay channels like Star Gold and Star World.
“They (Siti) switched us off but we are back on again in most of New Delhi as of yesterday,” countered Yash Khanna, head of corporate communications in Star. “Obviously they are feeling some insecurity as Zee TV is expected to go pay soon,” he said.
Siti claimed its actions were dictated by customer feedback which said no one was willing to pay for channels they do not view. They also asserted that Star’s actions were illegal. A Siti Cable group company providing cable services in Noida (a New Delhi suburb) has instituted legal proceedings with the MRTP (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices) Commission, a press release said.
“We are not forcing people to take all channels,” explained Khanna. “StarGold is priced at Rs 5.50 per home per month. But cable operators have a choice to take it or not to take it. Without StarGold, the Star bouquet is priced at Rs 19.25 per home per month, he said. “So where is the question of bringing the MRTPC commission into it.”
The major bone of contention is however the issue of paid connectivity. A problem which is bound to keep resurfacing unless a satisfactory conditional access system is introduced.
It was only on Monday that the Star affiliated Hathway Cables had reached a compromise with Sony over the declared paid connectivity of its pay channels SetMax, AXN and CNBC. Sony had switched off the channels in the Mumbai region from 2 January over a similar dispute as the one being witnessed between Siti and Star.
Siti charges that Star has demanded subscription charges on an assumed increase in the subscriber base without any verification or justification.
“We are being paid for just five million subs when the cable TV population in India is over 35 million. The figures speak for themselves,” says Khanna.
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.
