National

After The Eclipse

The Sun TV empire's writ ran even in Delhi. Too big, too soon?

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After The Eclipse
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The Heat Is On

Here's why the Sun network needs the DMK:

  • It has grown into a mega empire with 20 channels, seven FM stations, two dailies etc because of proximity to DMK
  • DMK cadre supported Sun, helped browbeat competitors, buy out cable operators
  • Free CTV scheme benefited Sun since it controls cable operations in Tamil Nadu
  • DMK made Dayanidhi the communications & IT ministry, it helped network grow
  • Sun's diversification plans may be grounded without the support of the DMK

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Tamil Murasu
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Once Dayanidhi got entrenched in the crucial IT and communications ministry (since May '04), Sun set its eyes on bigger targets. In April '06, there were reports about how Kalanidhi had demanded of industrialist Ratan Tata that he be made a promoter of the Tatas' DTH project, in which they and Star TV were 80:20 co-promoters. Kalanidhi apparently wanted one-third of the shares at par, irrespective of real or fair value. BJP leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, had then written to the PM drawing attention (belatedly though) to the conflict of interests between Dayanidhi's ministry and his brother's business.

For non-compliance, the Marans even allegedly threatened Tata with dire consequences in Tata Telecom. Advani had pointed out that Dayanidhi "controls the grant of spectrum for all wireless businesses including DTH and FM radio, in which Sun TV, of which he is a promoter, has been a beneficiary of licences granted by his ministry". It didn't come to anything, Dayanidhi continued to hold the portfolio.

Meanwhile, several central and state government departments were also obliged to direct ad spend in TN towards the Sun's visual and print arms. Besides, many telecom MNCs and automobiles companies—hustled into investing in Tamil Nadu by an over-enthusiastic Dayanidhi Maran—also had to release advertisements to the network.

While proximity to the DMK helped Sun, the party too benefited immensely by using it for propaganda. During the 1998 parliamentary elections, Sun TV telecast throughout election day Rajnikanth's appeal to vote out Jayalalitha and vote for the DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress alliance. And it paid rich political dividends for the DMK. The same happened in 2001, when Jayalalitha staged the midnight arrest of Karunanidhi. Sun TV's cameras were the first to get access to the visuals. Says Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi's daughter, "It's true that Sun played a significant role in raising awareness over my father's arrest, but they too derived a lot of mileage from those visuals."

The Sun-DMK relations have indeed been incestuous. A senior DMK leader concluded recently: "A political family having a stake in TV, newspapers, radio and every kind of media can certainly lead to unhealthy consequences. What we need is a law that can exercise controls over such a nexus."

Sun TV Ltd had of late been looking beyond the media business. A month ago, it put out a release to the bse saying it was planning to start aviation services for commercial and non-commercial purposes in the country and outside. On May 5, Jayalalitha cried foul saying Sun had in a record 23 days managed clearance from the Centre for purchasing two Bombardier aircraft (cost: Rs 236.94 crore). The application, submitted on December 12, '06, was cleared on January 5, '07 by the Directorate General of Foreign trade. Now, without DMK support, some of these plans could be grounded.

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