The state cable TV's penetration into rural Tamil Nadu is so huge that opposition parties do not want to be left out of this powerful avenue.
The Election Commission has ordered the transfer of the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation after political parties alleged that the government controlled body is blocking many television channels including those run by groups of business houses affiliated to the opposition.
Many television channels in the state function as mouth pieces of various political parties, promoting their candidates and slamming their rivals. Tamil Nadu goes to polls on May 16.
The state cable TV's penetration into rural Tamil Nadu is so huge that opposition parties do not want to be left out of this powerful avenue. They had complained that many channels were either blocked, tampered with or placed at frequencies that not many wouldn't watch.
The Arasu Cable TV was launched during the earlier DMK regime after former chief minister M Karunanidhi and his grandnephews, the Maran brothers who own the powerful Sun TV group, and another cable TV network in the state fell apart following a family feud. The corporation was dumped after both sides patched up.
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, who captured power in 2011, however, revived it and offered cable TV at a nominal price of Rs 70 a month. Recently, Arasu Cable started offering affordable broadband as well.