Tamil Nadu govt to nationalise cable TV operations in the state

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday announced to take over private cable operations in the state and revive Arasu Cable TV Corporation.
 
The move is signalled to break the monopoly in the cable network business. Arasu Cable TV Corporation was started in July 2008 by the then DMK government to counter the Maran brothers in the wake of a family feud.
 
The decision comes a day after reports against Maran brothers' Sun TV Network, headed by Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran's brother Kalanithi Maran, surfaced. It was reported that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had in September 2007 written to the department of telecommunication (DoT) questioning Maran's alleged decision as a telecom minister to open a telephone exchange at his home with 323 ISDN lines, which were allegedly used in Sun TV business.
 
The Thamizhaga Cable TV Operator's General Welfare Association (TCOA), which was primarily formed to take on the monopoly in cable TV trade, had also recently demanded the revival of Arasu.
 
Prior to the announcement, the state government had constituted a committee to look at the financial health of the corporation and formulate a plan to infuse fresh life into the company.