GECs
US bodies to start TV channels in Baghdad
WASHINGTON: The US government’s broadcasting board of governors (BBG) is planning to set up a new Baghdad TV channel to air Arabic captioned broadcasts of US news programmes. This follows the US military’s plans to establish its own broadcasting facilities on the ground in Baghdad this weekend. The US military has been broadcasting TV and radio into Iraq from a C-130 plane dubbed Commando Solo.
The move is also a prelude to US government’s planned December launch of the Mideast Television Network, an Arabic-language satellite TV operation.
The BBG, a semi-autonomous unit of the US State Department has plans to include broadcasts from the NBC Nightly News ; the ABC Evening News ; the CBS Evening News ; PBS’s News Hour; and the Fox News Special Report . Along with American TV newscasts, the new Iraqi channel, which is expected to air five or six hours of nightly programming, will also carry two hours of news from Radio Sawa.
The BBG is seeking help from the US Congress which is expected to approve the initial $3 million needed to jump-start the project as per an adage report which has quoted Westwood One and BBG Middle east committee chairman Norman J. Pattiz.
Aside from overseeing operations of the Voice of America, the BBG also runs Radio Sawa, which beams music and information at youth in Arab countries.
The channel won’t contain advertising and will also broadcast complete unedited shows.
On its proposed channel, the US military station will initially carry entertainment shows interspersed with news clips and informational messages about where to get supplies or how to avoid dangerous areas, according to US Central Command spokesman first Lt. Josh Rushing.
Lt. Rushing added that more Iraqis have access to radio There was also a report of plans by the military to start a newspaper for Iraqis.
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.
