GECs
Zee TV introduces first-of-its-kind voting via Google for ‘DID’
NEW DELHI: Zee TV has introduced a first-of-its-kind voting through Google search for its reality show Dance India Dance (DID).
The new voting will be introduced for DID Season 5 wherein viewers will be able to vote for their favourite reality TV contestant through a ‘Google Search.’
With the idea to make voting easy, technology-friendly and progressive, the channel has introduced a search-based mechanism that will simplify the voting process of DID Season 5. Viewers will have to log on to www.google.co.in and search for DID5 to vote for their favourite contestant on the voting panel right below the search bar.
Each Google account is permitted 20 votes per week to either one or many contestants.
The mechanism was activated on 19 September will be on from 9 pm on Saturday till Tuesday 8 am every week.
Zee TV marketing head Sorbojeet Chatterjee said, “With rapid penetration of smartphones and the growing digital audience, we are always trying to raise the bar in terms of engagement and DID Dream Team and Google Voting is testimony of Zee TV being ahead of the curve. With each successive season of DID, the objective has been to simplify the voting process for our consumers. The innovation on a global platform like Google will not only encourage wider participation but also give them an enhanced brand experience. We are pleased to associate with the extremely committed team of Google for the cutting-edge thought and a quick turnaround for the same.”
Google Asia Pacific head of social marketing James Rothwell added, “We’ve partnered with Zee TV to launch Google Search Voting platform in India through the show Dance India Dance and you can vote for free, for your favourite contestants on Google from your phone, tablet, or desktop.”
From the past two months, the top 15 contestants have been battling it out to prove their mettle and dance their way into the masters’ hearts. Now down to its Top 11 contestants, it is time for the audiences to support their favourite contestants in their journey to achieve the ‘Sunehri Taqdeer Ki Topi’ by voting for them. Viewers can also vote through SMS, ZEE TV app and the official website www.zeetv.com/DID5.
In the past too, the channel has pushed the envelope in the digital space, initiating concepts such as ‘Missed Call’ voting, incentivising voting by offering viewers a ‘Freecharge’ to their talk time, Twitter and Facebook voting for DID4, Zee Rishtey Awards and DID Super Moms respectively.
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.
