GECs
Zee Telefilms to digitise 50,000 hours of content, plans mobisodes
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) is digitising 50,000 hours of its programming as it plans to exploit the content across all the delivery platforms.
The company is also planning to launch mobisodes (mobisode is a brief episode of a video programme designed to be viewed on a mobile phone) based on its key properties. “We are seriously looking at launching mobisodes. We are identifying our key programming properties for this,” says Zee Telefilms director Punit Goenka.
According to Goenka, the whole process of digitisation would be completed by the end of 2006. The total project cost, for which Zee has partnered with IBM, would be $5-6 million.
“We are digitising 50,000 hours of programming. This would help us to bring out our content on every digital platform available,” says Goenka.
ZTL and IBM Global Services India Ltd. entered into an agreement this August, to develop end-to-end digital media asset management solution using technologies that will optimise the asset acquisition, development and broadcast playout.
The implementation will enable Zee to streamline and optimize the process involved in enterprise content management, deliver content to emerging mediums like IPTV, HDTV, video on mobile and video on demand. This will also help Zee reap the benefits of leveraging intellectual properties to earn additional revenues. ZTL has already released a mobile game based on its primetime thriller Time Bomb.
In India, Star and MTV have already launched mobisodes of their popular projects. While Star One has associated with Hutch to create mobisodes of the successful Star One comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (TGILC), MTV launched mobisodes of its brand new teen soap Pyaar Vyaar And All That this month.
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.
