GECs
Zee Telugu to relaunch on 18 May
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms is working on a new recipe to take grip of the Telugu language market which has been traditionally under the dominance of Gemini TV and ETV Telugu.
Come 18 May Zee Telugu will adorn a a new avatar and focus on audiences that has not specifically been addressed by the other channels. The relaunch will see a shift in positioning – From the mass based general entertainment mode to an upwardly mobile and young milieu.
The new strategy will see Zee Telugu targeting the SEC ABC (15 – 34) group. Apparently, the Telugu space till date has no definite positioning from any channel, as they either offer mass based general entertainment or news based programmes. Now, Zee Telugu, with its redefinition of its TG, will try and capture a space where class programming will be offered.
“It will be a battle of “class Vs mass programming,” points out a Zee official.
The vision is to have a definite positioning that can stand apart from what is currently being offered. To add momentum to its Telugu plans, Zee had appointed former ETV hand Ajay Kumar as senior vice-president and business head in February this year.
Post Zee Telugu’s launch, the channel hopes to spruce up its channel share to about 8-10 per cent, four to six months hence. On the pogramming front, the channel is currently working with reputed content providers and hoping to gain a lot more channel share after the facelift.
If one looks at the current standing of the Telugu channel, it garners less that one per cent of channel share in the market. The leaders of the Telugu space are Gemini TV and ETV.
Zee’s other regional channels will also be a key area of focus in the days to come considering 40 per cent of viewership comes from down South.
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.
