GECs
ZEEL’s Amit Goenka: Target 3 billion audiences in the next 5 years
MUMBAI: To conquer half the world – that is the aim of the 25-year old Zee Network. Barely weeks into the channel refresh of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) channels, the conglomerate has a new brand philosophy – ‘Extraordinary Together’.
ZEEL CEO Punit Goenka admits that for the last 25 years it has been choosing the time slot for people to watch television. “But in next 25 years we have to listen to the consumers and where he wants to consume, in which format and through which medium. That is the biggest change we see going forward,” he adds.
The company has reached 1.3 billion viewers globally with the presence in over 173 countries since 23 years. The foray into producing international content is recent and today Zee produces content in nine different languages. “We plan to produce more global content but 80 per cent will stay Indian content. We plan to target three billion audiences in the next five years,” says ZEEL International broadcast business CEO Amit Goenka.
In India, ZEEL will soon enter the Malayalam market. Along with this, the network plans to launch its consolidated digital platform Z5 soon.
Punit Goenka is optimistic that the company’s content will differentiate it from others. It will span Hindi and 11 regional languages, and a large film library in multiple languages. Though TV content will be on Z5, there will be original ones too.
He also said and expressed his wish to take theatre to extreme heights both in India and abroad.
Goenka clarified that ZEEL isn’t abandoning its earlier philosophy of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, but it is rather encompassing it all together.
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.
