Sun sets in Tamil Nadu on Azhagiri’s orders

The battle between the Marans and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s family has reached the Sun’s orbit.

The battle between the Marans and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s family has reached the Sun’s orbit.

After slugging it out in over personal and political issues, Karunanidhi’s elder son M.K. Azhagiri has taken the fight to the last mile, the lucrative cable distribution arena, which the Sun Group was lording over through its Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV).

Azhagiri’s Royal Cable Vision (RCV) was launched on Monday at a low-key function in Madurai, where the media was kept out. But the effect was felt soon after: soon after the launch, hundreds of households reported a blackout of Sun Group’s channels, which include 20 channels in four regional languages.

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The Sun Group, with its popular channels—Sun TV, Sun News, and movie and music channels—ruled over the TV ratings, while its distribution network, SCV, has been the unquestionable leader, though not always through fair means. Now, the group is feeling the pinch of the spat in the first family that left the Maran brothers, Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi, in the opposite camp of Azhagiri.

According to cable operators, about 25 per cent of them in Madurai have switched over to the RCV camp, mostly out of fear. A small number it may be, but a significant start for the rivals. “Azhagiri’s wishes are holy writs in Madurai. The ordinary operator is left with no choice but to join his company. If they don’t, the cables are cut and employees are threatened. Even the police are helpless,” said an operator on condition of anonymity. For those in the Sun Group though, this would sound like a similar allegation that was raised against them for several years when the group was with the DMK.

While operators are not opposed to the advent of a new network company, it is the nature of the game that threatens their livelihood. “Specific and stern instructions were passed on to us to stop airing Sun Group’s channels. However, while this slugfest might make sense to RCV, we are trapped. We are not able to carry out our monthly collection because the public is shouting at us for depriving them of their favourite programmes,” said another operator. Most operators have switched their phones off, tired of handling complaints from consumers.

Meanwhile, the Maran brothers are not taking it lying down. Dayanidhi has complained to the police commissioner in Chennai regarding the threats faced by operators belonging to SCV from both rival camps and police officers as well.