After Kalaignar channel, time for a DMK-owned cable corporation

Chennai, February 20: The cable war in Tamil Nadu has intensified with the DMK Government announcing that the state-run Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited will begin operations from June. Global bidders will be invited in March for broadcast equipment to help put in place a sophisticated and advanced digital cable network across the state with which the ruling DMK hopes to take on the Maran family-owned Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) that now has a virtual monopoly of the services.

Even as Arasu Cable held its first meeting on Tuesday evening, several cable operators supplying SCV signals, switched to Hathway, a multi-service operator, providing cable services in Chennai and said to have the blessings of M K Azhagiri, the elder son of CM M Karunanidhi. “At least 1,400 operators in Chennai are shifting to Hathway services,” said Kayal Ilavarasan, president of the Tamil Nadu Cable TV Urimayalargal Sangam (TANCUS), who attended the meeting.

On Saturday last, Dayanidhi Maran, whose family runs the SCV, the cable arm of the Sun Network Group, submitted a complaint to the Commissioner of Police accusing the cops in certain parts of Chennai of intimidating cable operators to switch to Hathway. Accusing the police of ‘high handed’ action, Maran alleged that “innocent” cable operators were being brought “in the line of fire” against his family.

Brijeshwar Singh, chairman and managing director, Arasu Cable said the Government was looking into all such complaints. He added that issues regarding launching cost effective cable operations were discussed. The network will be first set up in four districts in the state — Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur and Thiruvannamalai, and subsequently spread out. “We were told that the MSO would put in place an advanced digital technology using fibre optic that will ensure quality service,” said P Sakilan, president of the Tamizhaga Cable TV Operators General Welfare Association (TCOA), who participated in the Arasu Corporation’s deliberations on Tuesday. Both TANCUS and TCOA represent a sizeable section of cable operators in the state.

“Arasu is hoping to provide services which will cost a mere Rs 100 a month per subscriber, and will include paid channels as well,” he added. The Sun TV Group’s Sun Direct, which launched the Direct-to-Home services in September last year, is offering a monthly subscription of Rs 75. But this will provide only the Sun bouquet. Meanwhile, some cable operators have protested against being left out of the meeting, alleging that “only a favoured few” had been invited.

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