GECs
Zee TV expands DTH offering with Snell & Wilcox standards converters
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Limited (Zee), is using advanced CVR 550 multiformat standards converters from Snell & Wilcox to expand its direct-to-home offering. Twelve new CVR 550 standards converters, part of the high-performance Kudos Plus line, allow Zee TV to convert television programming from any standard, including PAL, SECAM, and NTSC, for delivery to its viewing audience.
“As India’s pioneering general entertainment network, broadcasting in six languages nationally as well as supplying feeds to international audiences, we are providing our viewers with offerings in every genre — film, news, fiction, action, celebrity shows, comedies, game shows, and more,” said Zee TV Assistant VP Technical Ravi Puri. “To provide this range of programming, we require high-quality standards conversion.
The Snell & Wilcox Kudos Plus range provides this quality and enables us to expand our offerings to the direct-to-home market seamlessly while maintaining the programming quality on which we have built our reputation.”
“The tremendous reach of Zee TV and the diversity of its programming requires a high quality of standards conversion ” said Snell & Wilcox Limited VP of marketing Joe Zaller.“With a dozen CVR 550 systems in place, Zee TV is able to convert and distribute virtually any media asset without compromising quality, regardless of the standard in which that material was originated.”
The Kudos Plus CVR 550 is an advanced multiformat four-field, four-line aperture standards converter designed to delhver excellent results at an economical price point. Just 1 RU in size, the CVR 550 provides full bidirectional operation between composite PAL, NTSC, and SECAM standards, as well as 10-bit SDI signals, along with AES audio handling.
The compact converter’s performance, size, and price make it ideal for a wide range of applications including mobile applications, news, and transmission. Like all Snell & Wilcox conversion solutions, the CVR 550 is fully compatible with the RollCall monitoring system and IQ Modular infrastructure systems, which simplify management of processing and distribution across the Zee facility and television channels
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.
