In a clear set back to the business interests of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi’s nephews Kalanidhi Maran and Dayanidhi Maran, Chief Minister Jayalalitha today decided to nationalize the cable TV operations in the state.

 

Announcing this in his customary address to the state assembly, Governor Surjith Singh Barnala said the cable TV operations would be nationalized and the state run Arasu Cable TV Corporation revived. This means the corporation would be managing the cable TV activities henceforth.

 

Most of the cable TV operations in the state are controlled by the Maran brothers through their Sun TV network and the decision of the AIADMK government will terminate their monopoly on the cable TV business in the state. The governor said the decision will not affect the local cable TV operators.

 

In its 2011 poll-campaign, the AIADMK had promised to nationalize the cable TV business in the state and offer cable TV services almost free of cost.