GECs
Zee Picchar becomes No. 2 movie channel in Karnataka
MUMBAI:: As per the recently released BARC weekly data, ZEE Picchar has claimed the second position in the Kannada movies genre with a total of 85.47 million impressions in its month of launch. In an already-cluttered market with players who are long-established, this position demonstrates the network’s strong resonance with the consumer interests and sentiments in Karnataka. With ZEE Kannada already holding the leadership position in the market for over a year now, ZEE network is all set to capture a sizeable share of the television viewership. ZEE Picchar’s launch has also been the most successful one the industry has seen in the last 3 years.
Launched with the unique promise of giving its viewers a Hit Dinada Feeling every day, the channel also stands out due to a robust movie library spanning generations and genres and consisting of some of the television’s highest rated movies like Kurukshetra, Doddmane Hudga, Pailwan, The Villain, Hebuli etc. With an innovative content strategy, wherein the channel premiered 12 new movies on 12 days consecutively for the first time ever for this genre, the channel has received an overwhelming response from Sandalwood movie lovers.
ZEEL domestic broadcast business chief consumer officer Prathyusha Agarwal said: “The exceptional performance of ZEE Picchar stands testimony to our network’s extraordinary commitment to be reflective of the cultural core of our viewers in each region that we operate in. With our ‘soul to screen’ approach, we tried to bring alive the love of cinema and celebrate its role in the lives of Kannadigas through this channel. And we are extremely happy that our audiences have given us a “Hit Dinada feeling’ in return by recognising our efforts and appreciating our offering.”
ZEE Kannada and ZEE Picchar business head Raghavendra Hunsur said: “I am extremely proud of Zee Picchar’s achievement as it clearly portrays that the channel has found love from Kannadigas, marking a milestone in the Kannada television market. For the first time in three years, a new channel has received as much encouragement and we are deeply humbled by the response. We are certain to only scale upwards from here as we have miles to go to achieve our goal. We are driving the channel’s placement further as we want the channel to be available across all homes for all our viewers in Karnataka. There is much more movie entertainment to come from ZEE Picchar for all our viewers. We are touched by the overwhelming support of our ardent viewers; we urge everyone to stay indoors and stay safe while having a hit day with ZEE Picchar.”
With a strong library of 350+ films, audience interests’-based programming throughout the day and exclusive titles, the channel is geared up to continue delivering on its strong debut performance and keep winning the hearts and minds of the Kannadigas who love watching movies.
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.
