Asianet (TV channel)

The channel was originally promoted by Dr Raji Menon in the mid 1990s.[3] In late 2006, Dr Raji Menon partially pulled out of Asianet Communications, turning over control to Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Jupiter Entertainment Ventures).[4] Star India bought a 51% stake in Asianet Communications and formed a joint venture with JEV in November 2008. In 2014, Star India took full ownership of Asianet Communications.

Asianet’s story starts much earlier than in 1993, it starts in Moscow. Dr Raji Menon was a student there and Mr P.Unnikrishnan was the correspondent of PTI in Moscow. Dr Raji Menon became a successful businessman based in Moscow and Mr P Unnikrishnan became the General Manager of PTI in India. When Mr Unnikrishnan initiated the idea of PTI TV, Dr Raji Menon’s nephew Mr Sasikumar was appointed. When the Central government scraped Doordarsan’s monopoly, Mr Unnikrishnan was among the first to react and with Dr Raji Menon they planned to start a National channel. Four of the leading newspapers and PTI itself, were to join in with Dr Menon as the Chief promotor and Mr Unnikrishnan at the helm of the Channel (after his retirement from PTI). Dr Menon negotiated for a transponder on the Russian satellite EKRAN, with a powerful beam over India , which meant that using a cheep spiral antenna the signal could be received all over India. In the absence of any cable connectivity in India, without the sanction to do terrestrial transmission, this was a good solution. The transponder was very costly, the satellite had the life span of two years and there were only two transponders on the satellite.

In India, ill fate hit the idea. Mr Unnikrishnan was terminally ill with lung cancer and now the whole idea was in a limbo. Mr Sashikumar and Mr Madhavankutty of Mathrubhoomi (Delhi) suggested tuning down the idea to a Malayalam Channel and Dr Raji Menon agreed and the first Malayalam Channel was born. Asianet’s logo is a derivative of Dr Menon’s company logo. Dr Menon’s office in Chennai became Asianet’s head office. To address the issue of cable networking a separate company called Asianet Satelite Communications was formed. Mr P Bhaskaran the renowned poet was the figurehead chairman. Dr Menon being not full time in India, on his behalf Mr Sashikumar the favourite nephew was in charge. Asianet Communications was registered with Dr C P Chandrasekhar and Mr Sashikumar as the first directors as Dr Menon as a NRI needed RBI clearance to own a media company. Dr Menon bought Uma Studio from the famous Malayalam actor Mr Madhu and this became Asianet’s Puliarkonam Studio. Mr Karunakaran the CM granted sanction to use the Electricity poles for cable networking. This was a mammoth effort.

In the absence of bank financing 50% shares of the cable networking company was offloaded to the Raheja Group. Dr Menon incresed Mr Sashikumar’s sweat equity from the initial 5% to 45% in stages. 5% of the equity was with Mr Raghu Nandan (Dr Menon’ elder brother). Dr Menon bought back the shares earlier given to Mr Sashikumar in 1999 at an agreed price, and took over full control of Asianet. Asianet was not in a comfortable financial situation then.

The remaining 50% shares in Asianet Satellite communications , the cable networking company was also sold to The Raheja Group who now had complete ownership of the Cable Networking Company called Asianet Satellite Communications.

Asianet started one more channel as Asianet Global on the 6th of July 2001 to cater to the Malayalees outside India, and this was later restructured into a News Channel.

Asianet aired its first news bulletin starting the 30th of September 1995. Under an arrangement with the Russian embassy with the help of Dr Ratheesh Nair (current), the famous Gorky Bhavan was repaired and taken over by Asianet. Asianet news operated from Gorky Bhavan from 2000. The central Government sanction for a full-fledged news channel took time and hence it was launched much later than planned on the 1st of May 2003. Dr Raji Menon the Chairman was also the Chief Editor of the News Channel.

Dr Menon managed Asianet with the help of Mr Mohan Nair as COO, Mr Prem Menon as Head of Marketing, Mr K P Mohanan first as Vice President News and later as Managing Editor Asianet News and Mr. M P K Nair Director Finances. (ex Federal Bank Chairman). Mr K Madhavan and Mr MPK Nair were elevated to the board of Asianet. In the second half of 2000 Mr Madhavan was appointed as the M D of Asianet. In 2002, when Mr MPK Nair left Mr Jiothispathy took over the responsibility. Mr TN Gopakumar and Mr Zakharia had major contributions to make. Mr PRS Nair helped in technology related affairs in the studio. Mr Madhavan was given 5% shares in the company as sweat equity. This was later raised to 15%. The chief editor Dr Menon always insisted on the news channel being objective and politically neutral. Asianet +, one more entertainment channel was started from the 27th of October 2005 and now from Asianet 3 channels were in the offering.

Starting 2001 discussions were held with Mr Subhash Chandra of Zee TV on joining forces (strategic partnership) to expand Asianet TV into all the other 3 South Indian languages . An agreement was signed but the deal fell through. Sometime in 2004 Mr Srikandan Nair was elevated from the position of an anchor of Nammal Thammil to the position of chief of programs by Dr Menon.

In 2006, with his main interest now in hydrocarbons Dr Raji Menon offloaded 51% shares of Asianet to Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar of Jupiter Capital.

Asianet is the top rated Malayalam television channel.[8] Asianet has a presence in over 60 countries worldwide including the Indian sub-continent, China, South East Asia, Middle East, Europe, United States and the lower half of the former Soviet Union.[9][10]

Asianet Plus is a second malayalam General Entertainment of Asianet Star Communication. Asianet Plus telecast serials , retelecast of Asianet old serials, movies,also telecasting dubbed Malayalam shows and INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE (ISL) in Malayalam Commentry .Asianet Plus slogan is "Life Need Plus". Asianet Plus is only available in SD format.

Asianet Plus

Type	Mass Media
Country	India
Broadcast area	Asia Pacific & MENA
Network	Star India
Headquarters	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Programming
Language(s)	Malayalam
Picture format	576i for the SDTV SD feed)'
Ownership
Owner	Asianet Star Communications
Sister channels	Asianet Asianet Movies Asianet Middle East Asianet Music Star Vijay Star Vijay Super Star Vijay Music Star Suvarna Suvarna Plus
History
Launched	20 July 2005 (2005-07-20)
Links
Website	Asianetplus on Disney+ Hotstar
Availability
Streaming media
Disney+ Hotstar	Watch Asianetplus on Disney+ Hotstar

List of program broadcast by Asianet Plus

• Kannante Radha
• Mahabharatham
• Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4
• Bigg Boss Plus
• Comedy Stars
• Start Music
• Badai Bungalow

Formerly broadcast on Asianet plus

1. Mounam sammatham
2. Mounam sammatham 2
3. Mounam sammatham 3
4. Mounam sammatham 4
5. Mounam sammatham 5
6. Priyamanasam
7. Hridhyathil Sookshikan
8. Mr. Kalyanaraman
9. Manasaveera
10. HaraHara Mahadeva
11. Akkarayanente Maanasam
12. Akkarayanente Maanasam 2
13. Shappile kariyum Navile ruchiyum
14. Chiryo Chiri
15. Swayamvaram
16. Classmates

Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, Malayalam movie Kilometers and Kilometers released directly through Asianet on 30 August 2020 on occasion of Onam.[12]

• Official website