GECs
Two Minute TV launches 3 original series for mobiles
MUMBAI: Two Minute Television Network, one of the lead players in the US-based will be available to anyone with a smartphone or PDA equipped with a media player. The free, ad-supported entertainment channel will put series such as Genius on a Shoestring; the first two-minute reality series, Adventures in Speed Dating; and News with a Punchline – in the palm of their hand.
The free, ad-supported entertainment channel will put series such as Genius on a Shoestring; the first two-minute reality series, Adventures in Speed Dating; and News with a Punchline – in the palm of viewers hands.
SmartVideo offers technology that enables fluid motion, fully synched live video and audio broadcasts, even on phones running on current 2.5G cellular networks, making it the only such service able to be called television in the true sense. Thanks to the successful launch of the more robust 3G networks in the US SmartVideo can provide 3G-capable phones with a minimum of 24 frames per second and virtual broadcast quality of at least 28 frames per second on Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
SmartVideo states that close to 70 million phones in the US are equipped with media players that support the SmartVideo system, which is compatible with all major wireless carriers in the world.
Two Minute Television has taken their experience bringing short form content to broadcast and cable television, as well as the Internet. SmartVideo states that Two Minute Television’s original, episodic television programs are ideal for the third screen.
In addition to the three two-minute series it has in production, Two Minute Television has six more series in development, including Cinderella Stories. This follows a person’s transformation in preparation for his/her big day. Emma in Two is the first two minute sitcom. The shows are all original and not re-purposed from long form TV, and all are being made available for three screens: television, the Internet and cellphones.
Two Minute Television and the recently announced Digital Music Video Network, (which will offer the latest music videos from top musical acts) are unique offerings in the emerging mobile television business, offering their services free to anyone with a current-generation media player installed on their device. The revenue for SmartVideo and Two Minute Television will come from brief, 15-second ads. These two channels make the promise and excitement of mobile television to a virtually limitless consumer audience, one that is not tied to any particular cellular service provider.
Two Minute Television chairman David Post says, “We are excited about our relationship with SmartVideo, and believe that our rapidly growing library of two minute television series is well-suited for smartphones. SmartVideo’s mobile television offering is easy and robust, and will help subscribers to enjoy our content, anytime, any place. We believe that TV is a perfect medium for cellphones.”
Two Minute Television claims to be a pioneer and leader in the short form video industry, with its content available on broadcast and cable television, on the Internet, and on cell phones with TV capability. The company brings nearly seven years of experience in creating and producing two minute TV segments, for networks and local stations, for news and entertainment shows.
SmartVideo Technologies offers the first and best-in-class services for broadcasting live, on-demand and download-and-play television content for mobile video consumers around the world. SmartVideo’s television solutions deliver video images with fully synched audio for broadcast to video-enabled cell phones and other handheld devices, via current and next-generation cellular and Wi-Fi systems.
SmartVideo’s proprietary technologies include a full suite of television content management services for wireless telco carriers as well as content owners, to provide an end-to-end mobile television broadcast and business solution. SmartVideo’s robust library of content includes news, weather, sports, children’s programming and more, from content providers like ABC News, NBC Universal, Fox Sports and The Weather Channel.
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.
