GECs
Steady growth continues in UK digital television market
By 30 June 2003 multichannel and digital TV penetration are estimated to have increased to 49.8 per cent and 45.5 per cent of UK households respectively, according to the ITC’s latest Multichannel Quarterly published today.
Digital penetration increased by 1.6 per cent points over the last quarter (April – June 2003), which was attributable to the following key developments:
* The growth of DTT has continued, reaching an estimated 1.8m households at the end of the quarter.
* Sky added 126,000 subscribers during the quarter, giving a total of 6.6m UK households.
* Cable also contributed to the growth in digital penetration by adding over 38,000 digital subscribers bringing the total number of digital cable homes to 2.2m.
According to an official release, the ITC’s Multichannel Quarterly reports every three months on the take-up of both analogue and digital multichannel television in the UK. As far as possible, the data in this report is based upon the latest figures provided by the platform operators. However, it is also necessary to rely on some estimated figures. For free-to-air penetration for example, data from third party sources and the ITC’s own view of the market has been used to compile this report.
At present, this report does not take into consideration platform overlap. In other words, all households are considered to be discrete multichannel units. However, the ITC is currently working on a methodology to report more accurately on multi-platform households.
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.
