GECs
Zee turns 33 as satellite TV pioneer keeps India’s screens buzzing
MUMBAI: From Zee-ro to hero, India’s private satellite television industry has come a long way since Zee TV first flickered onto screens in 1992. Thirty-three years later, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) is celebrating not just its own journey, but the meteoric rise of an entire industry that now fuels a ~Rs 2.5 trillion economy and supports 2.8 million livelihoods.
Back then, the story began with a single satellite channel. Today, India boasts 908 private satellite channels, 70 plus OTT platforms, nearly 40,000 artists, lyricists and music directors, and more than 3,400 feature films churned out each year, a content explosion that has transformed living rooms and lifestyles alike.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. CEO Punit Goenka marked the occasion with pride, “The journey of ‘Z’ is inseparable from the story of India’s M&E industry. Collectively, we have entertained and empowered our Nation, engaging and inspiring billions of consumers on every screen. Our success over the last 33 years is not defined only by numbers but by the immense value we have generated and the moments of togetherness we’ve created. As pioneers, we view this celebration as a stimulus to power ahead and nurture an ecosystem of creativity and growth.”
Over the decades, Zee has mirrored the M&E sector’s transformation from being a catalyst for authentic, multilingual storytelling to enabling a networked ecosystem spanning TV, film, music, digital, and live entertainment. Its latest move: venturing into short-form content to capture evolving consumer habits.
The industry’s economic footprint is only set to expand. With nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in FDI already attracted and an expected 7 per cent growth to Rs 3.07 trillion by 2027, India’s entertainment sector is being hailed as one of the country’s strongest instruments of soft power.
As Zee celebrates 33 years of keeping audiences glued, its story is more than a corporate milestone, it’s a chapter in how India learned to tell, stream, and scale its stories for the world.
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.
