KatharinaFlanery at 15:41, 10 April 2026

2026-04-10T15:41:48Z

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{{Short description|Indian Telugu-language TV channel}}
{{About|the Indian television channel|other uses|Gemini (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Sun Gemini
| logo = Sun Gemini.jpg
| logo_size =
| logo_caption = Logo used Since 2026
| logo_alt =
| image =
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1995|02|09|df=y|p=y}}
| closed_date =
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterboxed]] [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| network = [[Sun TV Network]]
| owner = [[Sun Group]]
| motto =
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| area = Worldwide
| affiliates =
| headquarters = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]
| former_names =
| replaced =
| replaced_by =
| sister_channels =
| timeshift_service =
| website = [https://www.sunnetwork.in/Default.aspx?Lang=telugu; Sun Gemini HD]
| terr_serv_1 =
| terr_chan_1 =
| online_serv_1 =
| online_chan_1 =
| 3gmobile serv 1 =
}}

'''Sun Gemini''' (formerly known as '''Gemini TV''') is an Indian [[Telugu language]] general entertainment [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Sun TV Network]]. It is the first [[satellite]] TV channel in Telugu.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Dr Paramveer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&dq=Gemini+TV&pg=PA172 |title=Indian Silver Screen |date=2021-08-05 |publisher=K.K. Publications |pages=180 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=History of Sun network and its channels mentioned by "Sun TV" |url=http://www.televisionpoint.com/tvchannels/ftaothers/sunnetwork.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601170027/http://www.televisionpoint.com/tvchannels/ftaothers/sunnetwork.html |archive-date=1 June 2007 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Televisionpoint.com}}</ref> It was launched on 9 February 1995 by the Gemini Group of Hyderabad (run by Akkineni Manohar Prasad, grandson of [[L. V. Prasad]]), in association with [[Sun TV Network]].{{Refn|<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dSdJAAAAYAAJ&q=gemini |title=Interaction |publisher=National Council of Developmental Communication |year=1997 |volume=15-17 |pages=82 |language=en |quote='''Gemini TV''' Telugu channel launched by a grandson of legendary film producer, the late L. V. Prasad.}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Anshu Nagpal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G1BOAQAAMAAJ&q=gemini+tv |title=Global Communication and Television Development: Community Mediation in Multicultural India |date=2003 |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |pages=70, 71 |language=en |quote=Gemini TV, also started to broadcast in 1995, is a venture between the Prasad family, a film producer, and Kalanidhi Maran of the very successful Sun TV in Tamil Nadu.}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Amit |date=28 February 1995 |title=As TV revolution unfolds, global & Indian players vie with each other promising greater choices |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19950228-as-tv-revolution-unfolds-global-indian-players-vie-with-each-other-promising-greater-choices-806931-1995-02-27 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=[[India Today]] |language=en |quote=Two platforms where several new regional players are coming up are the Rimsat satellites, G1 and G2. Sun TV has launched two more channels on G1: Gemini TV, a Telugu channel in association with the Gemini group of Hyderabad (run by Ramesh Prasad, grandson of the legendary film personality L.V. Prasad), ...}}</ref><ref name=":2g">{{cite book |last=Kumar |first=Shanti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=abPsWgqrmMMC&dq=Gemini+TV&pg=PA11 |title=Gandhi Meets Primetime: Globalization and Nationalism in Indian Television |date=2010-10-01 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-09166-7 |pages=10, 11 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Amos Owen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l8uGAwAAQBAJ&dq=Gemini+TV&pg=PA117 |title=Imagi-Nations and Borderless Television: Media, Culture and Politics Across Asia |date=2005-09-15 |publisher=SAGE Publications India |isbn=978-81-321-0359-2 |pages=117 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0g">{{cite book |last=Desai |first=Mira K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr5FEAAAQBAJ&dq=gemini+tv&pg=PT32 |title=Regional Language Television in India: Profiles and Perspectives |date=2021-11-21 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-47008-6 |language=en |quote=The private satellite channels in Hyderabad began transmission with the launch of Gemini TV in Telugu on February 9, 1994, by a film production family but could not sustain it and later sold it to the media group Sun TV Network.}}</ref>|name=launch}} In 1996–97, Sun TV Network acquired a controlling interest in the channel.{{Refn|name=acquisition|<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{cite book |last=Juluri |first=Vamsee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILvNJ0Rf25gC&dq=gemini+tv&pg=PA31 |title=Becoming A Global Audience |date=2004 |publisher=Orient Longman Private Limited |isbn=978-81-250-2741-6 |pages=31 |language=en |quote=.... Gemini TV, a Telugu satellite channel that was acquired by the Sun TV group in 1997. |author-link=Vamsee Juluri}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |date=4 November 1998 |title=Business Special: Sun rises in the west |url=https://www.rediff.com/business/1998/nov/04suntv.htm |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |quote=Now, within 18 months after taking over Gemini, the channel is close to ETV.}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite book |last=Heitzman |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M065AAAAIAAJ&q=gemini |title=Network City: Planning the Information Society in Bangalore |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566606-9 |pages=244 |language=en |quote=The Sun group also acquired a controlling interest in the Telugu language Gemini TV which competed against Eenadu TV .....}}</ref>}} The channel's programming consists of serials, films, film-based programs and game shows alongside some reality shows. Sun Gemini HD was launched on 11 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bseindia.com/corporates/anndet_new.aspx?newsid=af1b67fd-3e02-4933-8806-54fc2be189ea|title=Gemini TV HD launched|website=BSE India|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Gemini TV Logo.png|alt=Gemini tv logo|thumb|Gemini tv logo from 1995-2026]]
'''Sun Gemini''' was launched on 9 February 1995.<ref name=":4">{{cite book |last1=Bel |first1=Bernard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z8WGAwAAQBAJ&dq=Gemini+TV&pg=PA331 |title=Media and Mediation |last2=Brouwer |first2=Jan |last3=Das |first3=Biswajit |last4=Parthasarathi |first4=Vibodh |last5=Poitevin |first5=Guy |date=2005-12-13 |publisher=SAGE Publications India |isbn=978-81-321-0269-4 |pages=331 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=9 February 2020 |title=We have turned one more year younger and completed 25 successful years! |url=https://twitter.com/geminitv/status/1226392786393415680 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website= |publisher=Gemini TV |language=en |via=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6RaAAAAYAAJ&q=gemini |title=Business World, Volume 16 |publisher=[[Business World]], [[ABP Group]] |year=1996 |pages=114, 115 |language=en |quote=Gemini TV (started in February 1995 by A. Manohar Prasad, a film and TV software producer) ....}}</ref> It is founded by the Gemini Group of Hyderabad (run by Akkineni Manohar Prasad, grandson of [[L. V. Prasad]]), in association with [[Sun TV Network]].{{Refn|<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7"/><ref name=":11"/><ref name=":8"/><ref name=":2g"/><ref name=":3"/><ref name=":0g"/>|name=launch2}} In 1996–97, Sun TV Network acquired a controlling interest in the channel.{{Refn|name=acquisition}} Gemini TV is the first [[satellite]] TV channel in Telugu.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> Gemini TV began with only a four-hour service via a Rimsat satellite uplinked from [[Singapore]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" /> Later it expanded its broadcast time to 12 hours a day.<ref name=":3" /> By May 2000, Gemini was considered as a strong number two to the leader [[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]].<ref name="BW2000">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKJaAAAAYAAJ&q=gemini+tv |title=Business World |date=May 2000 |publisher=[[ABP Group]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Sun TV Network]], its parent company, tried to regain dwindling viewership by introducing some new [[Reality television|reality shows]]. The effort was only a partial success. As of September 2022, the network has not regained its lost viewership, with viewership still decreasing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-19 |title=Gemini TV Serials TRP Ratings 2024 |url=https://cinebuds.com/gemini-tv-serials-trp-ratings-week/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Sun Group started working in the television business through three companies of which Gemini Television Private Limited broadcast Telugu language channels, while Sun Television Private Limited and Uday Television Private Limited broadcast Tamil and Kannada language channels respectively.<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Dr Paramveer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ&dq=Gemini+TV&pg=PA172 |title=Indian Silver Screen |date=2021-08-05 |publisher=K.K. Publications |pages=172 |language=en}}</ref> In November 2006, [[Kalanithi Maran]] merged Gemini TV Ltd with [[Sun TV Network]] Ltd along with Udaya TV Ltd for the IPO listing of Sun TV Network.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/11/27/sun-tv-merger-with-gemini-tv-udaya-tv-1164639828.html|title=SUN TV merger with Gemini TV, Udaya TV|last=Staff|date=2006-11-27|website=Oneindia|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=5217|title=Sun TV Board approves Amalgamation & Merger|date=2006-12-01|website=EquityBulls|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/company/sun-tv-network-15228/information/company-history|title=Sun TV Network Ltd.|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref>

'''Sun18'''

Network18 Group has 50% dealing distribution with Sun TV Network, which led them to make Sun18. In July 2010, with the creation of Sun18, Sun TV Network became responsible for the South Indian market, while Network18 was responsible for the North Indian market.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 July 2010 |title=Network18, Sun form distribution JV |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/content/network18-sun-form-distribution-jv |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Indiantelevision.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-13 |title=Sun Network ties up with Network18 to form Sun18 |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Sun-Network-ties-up-with-Network18-to-form-Sun18/article16195437.ece |access-date=2022-10-19 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Programming==
{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Sun Gemini}}

== Sister channels ==
=== Sun Gemini Movies ===
'''Sun Gemini Movies''' is an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language movies [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Sun TV Network]]. it was launched in May 2000 as (Teja TV). In October 2010, it was renamed as Gemini Movies.<ref name="M">{{Cite web|url=https://www.medianews4u.com/k-subramanyam-is-the-new-business-head-of-gemini-tv-and-telugu-cluster/|title=K Subramanyam is the new Business Head of Gemini TV and Telugu Cluster | MediaNews4U|date=17 February 2016}}</ref>

=== Sun Gemini Music ===
'''Sun Gemini Music''' is India's first [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language music [[pay television]] channel owned by the [[Sun TV Network]]. It was launched in 2005.<ref name="M"/>

=== Kushi TV ===
'''Kushi TV''' is an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language kids [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Sun TV Network]]. It was launched on 9 April 2009 and broadcasts cartoons and kids programmes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/kids-entertainment-channel-kushi-tv-turns-10-96040.html|title=Kids entertainment channel Kushi TV turns 10 - Exchange4media|first=exchange4media|last=Staff|date=12 April 2019|website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media}}</ref>

=== Sun Gemini Comedy ===
'''Sun Gemini Comedy''' is India's first [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language comedy [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Sun TV Network]]. It was launched in 2009 as Navvulu TV and later it was renamed as Gemini Comedy.<ref name="M"/>

=== Sun Gemini Life ===
'''Sun Gemini Life''' is an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language classic movie [[pay television]] channel which broadcasts classic movies. It was launched in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/trade-news/telugu/gemini-life-to-celebrate-first-anniversary/articleshow/45728728.cms|title=Gemini Life to celebrate first anniversary|date=2 January 2015|work= The Times of India}}</ref>

===Defunct Channels===
====Gemini News====
'''Gemini News''' was an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]] language news [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Sun TV Network]]. It was launched in May 2004 with much publicity and got good ratings on the first 7-10 years but after the entry of various players its ratings gradually decreased in the competitive segment and mounted to losses. As a result, it was closed on 1 February 2019 and was replaced by Bengali General Entertainment Channel, [[Sun Bangla]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/P4PzBGYxbU4WiGjxZyp4ZM/New-Hyderabad-IPL-franchise-Sun-Risers-eyes-sponsors.html|title=New IPL franchise eyes sponsors|first=Yogendra Kalavalapalli &,Viswanath|last=Pilla|date=20 December 2012|website=mint}}</ref>

== See also==
* [[Sun TV (India)]]
*[[List of Telugu-language television channels]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunnetwork.in/Default.aspx?Lang=telugu GEMINI TV Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717155715/http://sunnetwork.in/Default.aspx?Lang=telugu |date=17 July 2019 }} {{in lang|en}}

{{Sun Group}}
{{Telugu Language Television}}

[[Category:Telugu-language television channels]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Sun Group]]
[[Category:Television stations in Hyderabad, India]]

Sun Gemini - Revision history

KatharinaFlanery at 15:41, 10 April 2026