GECs
Sun TV’s unassailable lead continues, while Zee TV leads Hindi across genre
BENGALURU: The Sun network’s flagship Tamil general entertainment channel (GEC) Sun TV continued its lead in ratings across all GECs on Indian television for week 48 of 2017 (25 November to 1 December 2017) according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) weekly ratings data. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) network flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV also continued its lead of Hindi GECs with the support of Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms produced family dramas Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya.
BARC data for the top 10 channels across genre (All India Individuals 2+) for week 48 had three channels from the Star India network, two channels each from Zeel, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Network 18 and one channel from Sun TV network in its list. From the genres perspective, six Hindi GECs, two Telugu GECs and one each channel from the Tamil GEC and Hindi Movies spaces comprised the top 10 channels list for week 48 of 2017.
Sun TV retained its numero uno with 1019.892 million weekly impressions. The channel’s ratings were ably supported by the fact that all the five top Tamil programmes during primetime for the week were as usual from Sun TV. It is only during the Indian Premier League that the channel had to make way for the channel that airs the cricketing bonanza, but it continues leading all GECs.
Zee TV was ranked second with 723.935 million weekly impressions followed by Network 18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors at third rank with 681.010 million weekly impressions. Tu Aashiqui that was aired on the latter was among the top five Hindi GEC programmes in the HSM urban (U) + Rural (R) and the HSM (U) markets during primetime. Another soap on the channel, Udaan, was also among the top five programmes list in the HSM (U) market during primetime.
Star India’s recently renamed and relaunched FTA Hindi GEC Star Bharat was ranked fourth with 665.612 million weekly impressions. Kya Haal Mr. Paanchal continued its run in the top five programmes on Hindi GEC HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) markets. Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC Zee Anmol was ranked fifth with 614.632 million weekly impressions.
SPN’s women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal ranked sixth in the top 10 channels across genres list with 600.202 million weekly impressions. Balveer in the Hindi GEC HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma in the HSM (R) markets were among the five most watched Hindi GEC programmes during primetime.
SPN’s Hindi Movies channel Sony Max at seventh place with 563.980 million weekly impressions. Hindi feature films PK, Dangerous Khiladi 6 and Poster Boys aired on Sony Max were in the top five lists of programmes list in the HSM (U) market. Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa was ranked eighth in the list with 515.303 million weekly impressions. Two programmes on Star Maa– Karthika Deepam and Kumkum Puvvu were in the top five Telugu programmes list during the week under review.
The Network 18 associated Telugu GEC ETV Telugu was ranked ninth with 505.527 million weekly impressions. Swati Chinukulu and Manasu Mamata featured on ETV Telugu were among the top five Telugu programmes in the AP/ Telangana (U+R) areas (NCCS All: Prime Time (1800 – 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals). The Star Networks flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus was ranked tenth in week 48 of 2017 with 503.505 million impressions.
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.
