On Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu Government launched its own cable television distribution corporation, taking Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s war against his grandnephews, Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran, and their Sun Group to the last mile. This was also the first time a state Government launched its own cable TV outfit.

After launching Kalaignar TV by the DMK and Royal Cable Vision by Karunanidhi’s son M K Azhagiri, this is the latest move against the Maran brothers and their vast business empire.

The launch of Arasu Cable TV Corporation is the first official initiative against the Sun Group. The Chief Minister justified the move as a measure to prevent “multi-system operators from exploiting the public and cable operators” by overcharging.

According to Karunanidhi, the state Government had received several complaints from the public regarding overcharging by distribution companies up to Rs 300 per month, following which it decided to set up the corporation. Subscribers would be provided connection for as little as Rs 100, he said. “The Government’s intention is to provide quality telecast to the public and not earn revenue,” he said.

Initially, the corporation would cover four southern districts of Tanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchy and Tiruvarur and would extend the reach later.

However, quite like RCV’s on-going legal wrangles with SCV, ACTV’s operations could also be marred by Sun’s refusal to provide feeds of its immensely popular channels. In response to this problem, Karunanidhi asserted that legal action would be initiated against the paid channels that were refusing to provide feeds.

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