Author: Kumar Chellappan
Publication: Daily News & Analysis
Date: May 29, 2011
URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_2g-scam-kalaignar-tv-gets-licence-to-launch-new-channel_1549026-all
Fearing that the Enforcement Directorate probing
the 2G spectrum allocation scam may ask the ministry of information and broadcasting
to cancel the licences of Kalaignar TV, its management has obtained license
to launch a new channel the moment Kalaignar TV goes off the air.
With promoter Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK leader
Muthuvel Karunanidhi, and managing director Sharat Babu cooling their heels
in Tihar Jail on charges of hatching the 2G scam and money laundering, Kalaignar
TV, owned by the Karunanidhi family, has gone into a major fire-fighting exercise.
The Karunanidhi family has made arrangements
to launch the new channel with the name Murasu. "Yes, the ministry has
given them the license to start new TV channels under the brand name Murasu.
It is for the management to decide when to launch the channels," said
Atya Nand, under-secretary (broadcasting), ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
told DNA. Atya Nand heads the section issuing licences to prospective television
broadcasters.
To begin with, Murasu will beam two channels.
"One will be an exclusive news channel and the other a general entertainment
channel," said a source in Kalaignar TV. "We will restrict Murasu
to news and entertainment for the time being," he said.
Meanwhile, the top management had convened
a meeting of the programme staff late last week to inform them about possible
fallout of the arrest of Kanimozhi and Sarat Babu. "The management has
asked those of us interested in moving out are welcome to do so since the
company is facing financial problems," said an employee. He said 27 persons
have already quit.
Karunanidhi and the DMK need a TV channel
very badly in the backdrop of Sun Network, owned by the Maran brothers, cozying
up to chief minister Jayalalithaa and almost blacking out Kanimozhi from its
news bulletins.
