News Broadcasting

Asianet kicks off 14th anniversary celebrations with Onam programmes

Published

20 years ago

August 28, 2006

MUMBAI: Malayalam television network Asianet is completing 14 years during this Onam season. Understandably, the channel has an innovative game plan for the occasion and it goes like this: To mark its 14th anniversary, the channel has now kicked off a 14-day celebration, which kicked off on 27 August and will conclude on 9 September.

During the period, the channel brings to its viewers a heavy doze of entertainment content, ranging from blockbuster movies to celebrity interviews to cultural specials.

Here is a look at what Asianet has in store for the occasion:
De Maveli Kombathu by film star Dileep and Nadirsha:
This is the picturisation of the most popular parody cassette, De Maveli Kombathu. This is an exclusive programme containing mimicry, parody songs, skits etc by around 50 artists including cine star Dileep. This parody cassette is the most popular one, which has been a hot stuff for sale for the last few years.
Date of telecast: Thiruvonam ( 5 September)
Duration: one hour

Tharakodathy: This is a programme in which film artist Dilip is being cross-examined by actor Jagdeesh. This is comedy stuff. Dilip’s onam movie ” DON ” will also be highlighted in this programme.
Date of telecast: Thiruvonam ( 5 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Special interviews:
It is decided to have 14 special interviews during celebration with four interviews during Onam days exclusively with popular film artists including Mammootty, Kamal Haasan, Nayan Thara, Rambha, Sheela, Bhagyaraj & family, Biju Menon & family, Surya, Vikram, Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair, Ks Chitra and Mohini.

Short humorous skit for duration between 13 minutes. A few skits on lighter vein for telecast during main Onam days. Participants will be from Cinemala, Thattukada, Comedy Cousins and Snmanassullavarkku Samadhanan

Programmes with television artists.
Onam feast, special chatting, Onapattukal, Onakkalikal etc with artists of ongoing serials by Asianet.
Date of telecast: Utharadam ( 4 September)
Duration: 1 hour

Serial Quiz. This will be a live quiz on serials telecast on Asianet.
Date of telecast: (30 August)
Duration: one hour

Onam released films: Special programme in films released during Onam celebrations
Date of telecast: Pooradam-Uthradam ( 4 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Antakshari by G Venugopal & Ranjini Jose: This is a musical Anantakshari by playback singer Venugopal and Ranjini Jose
Date of telecast: Thrikkatta and Uthrittathi (7 September and 9 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Onavibhavangal presented by film and TV artists.( Special cookery show)
Date of telecast: Utharadam ( 4 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Kuttikalude Onam:
Date of telecast: Pooruruthathi (8 September ).
Duration: 30 minutes

Ganamela
This is a live Ganamela with request from viewers. Participants will be playback singers and serial artists.
Date of telecast: 29 August
Duration: one hour

Kalabhavan Mani and his reputed characters in an innovative format.
Date of telecast: Utharadam ( 6 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Sreenivasan Vs Junior Sreenivasan: This is a humorous encounter between cine artist Sreenivasan and his son Vineeth Sreenivasan which is a first time they are coming together for a TV programme.
Date of telecast: Thiruvonam ( 6 September)

Onam Oru Kuttanadan Style: There is special customs and humorous way that the old and new generation celebrating Onam in Kuttanad. They have been following a special style of celebrations, ignoring age. Their Onam starts from the toddy shop, with different folk songs.
This will be an innovative production
Date of telecast: Pooruruthathy ( 6 September)

Mammooty for Mammooty: This is also an unconventional way of presenting Mammooty on a TV channel. He has planned to visit a place, which we can never imagine.
Date of telecast: Thiruvonam ( 6 September)

Kamalum Kayalum: Superstar Kamalhassan is making a travel in a houseboat specially arranged for the shoot, which will be totally done in the lakes.
Date of telecast: Utharadam ( 6 September)

Hi Vikram: South Indian Superstar Vikram will appear on the channel in an innovative style for electrifying our youth and other audience in the Onam Day.
Date of telecast: Thiruvonam ( 6 September)

60 Mimicrykkarum Arayiram Navum: This is a humorous talk show including performance by 60 reputed mimicry artists of Kerala. The total programme will be in a humorous genre. All most all the leading mimicry artists of Kerala will participate in the programme in the backdrop of a good set.
Date of telecast: Avittam( 6 September)
Duration: 2 hours

Ente Gramam ( My Village): This is a programme visualizing the nostalgic travel of a film artist to his village or native place.
Date of telecast: Avittam( 6 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

A day with Meera Jasmine: We are telecasting an in-depth chatting with Meera Jasmine.
Date of telecast: Avittam( 6 September)

Vidhyasagar being interview by playback singers: In this programme, the hit making music director is being interviewed by playback singers like Vijay Yesudas, Mahathy,Tippu etc with many number of songs he has done in different languages of South India.
Date of telecast: Pooradam( 3 September)

Nadodikkattu: Special Cinemala (shot at Banglore)
This is a humors depiction of the famous film, Nadodikkattu with Cinemala artists along with a few film artists also.
Date of telecast: Pooradam( 3 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Ottamthullal by Ginnus Manoj ( who is doing Achuthnandan on stage)

This is a political ottanthullal with sufficient satiric stuff on contemporary politics.
Duration: 30 minutes
Date of telecast: Chathayam( 7 September)

Special Nammal Thammil with all mimicry artists imitating V S Achuthanadan titled as ‘ Achuthanadansangamam)
Date of telecast: Pooradam ( 3 September)

Special close up with Nayanthara titled as Nammude Nayana Tharam. This is a very informal chat with South Indian star Nayanthara.
Date of telecast:Thiruvonam ( 5 September)
Duration: 30 minutes

Greetings for the 14th year celebration of Asianet
There will have greetings by VIP’s and film artists for duration of one minute in connection with anniversary celebration..

Short pieces documenting programmes of Asianet over 14 years. We will put short duration fillers with excerpts from unique programmes, which we have telecast over the last 14 years. This will be done with an impressive graphics background, informs an official release.
Date of telecast: Spreading over 14 days
Duration: 1-2 minutes.

Asianet News

1) 27 August
Athachamayam live from Thrippunithura from 7 am.
2) 28 August 8:30 pm
Onakkodi, a half our documentary
3) 29 August 8:30 pm
Regional flavours of Onam – South Kerala
4) 30 Aug.ust 8:30 pm
Regional flavours of Onam – Central Kerala
5) 31 August 8:30 pm
Regional flavours of Onam – Malabar
6) 1 September 8:30
Onachitrangal – On the new movies to be released during Onam.
7) 4 September 8:30 to 9:30
Grandmothers & Kids – the family interaction show
8) 5 September 8:30 pm
Maveli Vartha: News presenter appears masquerading Mahabali and presents various entertaining news on Onam.
9) 6 September 8:30 pm
Onakkalikal – On various games of yesteryears played during Onam festival
10) 7 September 8:30 pm
Onakkavithakal – A documentary on poems written by various poets for Onam.
11) 8 September 8:30 pm
Ona Ganangal – Top film songs on Onam.
12) 9 September 2 pm to 6 pm
Uthrattathi Vallamkali – live from Aranmula.

Asianet Plus

Some of big youth idols will be featured on the channel during this Onam. The highlight of the season would be an intimate interview with Harris Jayaraj, who had taken the music world with storm, through enchanting numbers of Minnale and Anniyan.

Superstar Dileep would be taking a trip down memory lane to his formative years, where he would be talking bout his trials, turbulences and successes in life.

K.S.Chitra, the melody queen of South India, chats up with the finalists of Idea Star Singer.

Johnson, the most outspoken and the most melodious of our music directors in a freewheeling chat with G.Venugopal. Ouseppachan, who is most remembered for his lilting tunes opens his mind.

The most lovable of the Malayalam heroines, Kavya Madhavan, chats up about her life and career. Other stars and celebrities being featured are: Jayaram, Jayasurya, Navya Nair and Padmapriya.

Two game shows are being planned, one a five day long series with the finals of it being aired on Thiruvonam Day. There would be a reality travel show with the VJs of Asianet Plus. A feature on the movie Classmates with the artistes and director. A Telefilm with Onam as the central theme. Special shows with focus on Onam songs and a music video featuring the artistes and VJs of Asianet Plus.
Besides these programmes, the whole look and feel of the channel would be made to highlight the Onam mood, as per an official communiqué.

Related Topics:Malayalam television network

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.