GECs
Times’ spiritual channel Ananda on hold?
MUMBAI: After having stitched a deal with Reuters for its news channel venture, which would give it access to the global information company’s financial and technical muscle power, the Times Group is having second thoughts about launching a spiritual channel.
Bennett Coleman & Company (publishers and owners of The Times of India and Times TV ventures) had earlier announced that after the launch of its lifestyle channel Zoom, it would go ahead with the launch of a spiritual channel to be followed by a business channel; in that order to be precise. It had also fixed a name for the spiritual channel as Ananda (not to be confused with the soon-to-launch Bengali langauge news channel Star Ananda from the ABP-Star combine).
Though the company has now moved into third gear with its news channel, a company source reveals a few people hired for the spiritual channel have been quietly given pink slips, while some others have been absorbed within the organization elsewhere.
All the programmes which were shot and readied for the spiritual channel, have been passed on to the Times Music division to be converted into VCDs. Sources confirmed that there was a delay in Ananda’s launch plans because of the renewed concentration on Zoom and the news channel.
Meanwhile, as far as the restructuring goes, though Bennett Coleman & Company Ltd president Arun Arora has reportedly been given a two-year extension, he is not directly involved in the television business anymore. This, say sources, is evident from the fact that Times Television Network (different from the news channel venture which is under The Times Global Broadcasting Co. Ltd) COO Apoorva Purohit now reports directly to the Times’ MD Vineet Jain.
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.
