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The war of the channels has begun in right
earnest. DMK-backed Kalaignar TV was officially launched
September 15.
Raj TV has launched Kalaignar TV with a sun
as the channel logo. Sharath Kumar, a former director of Gemini
Television and one who had played a pivotal role in the
resounding success of Sun Network’s Telugu channels Gemini TV
and Teja TV, has been roped in as managing director.
Rama Narayanan, president of the Tamil Nadu
Film Producers Association, is the chief operating officer and P
Amirtham, former principal of the Film and Television Institute,
Chennai, and a nephew of Karunanidhi, is the chief financial
officer.
Kalaignar TV will offer the
usual film and entertainment programmes and air news thrice a
day. But the timing of its news capsules do not clash with those
of Sun TV.
On the opening day, Kalaignar
TV beamed Tamil hits ‘Mozhi’
and ‘Imsai
Arasan 23-am Pulikesi’ and premiered director Mani Ratnam’s
‘Ayadha Ezhuthu’ on September 16 along with 'Periyar'
(both days being holidays due to Vinayaka Chathurthi), while Sun
TV beamed equally big hits.
The channel also aired a series
of programmes, including interviews with Kamal Haasan, Ilayaraja,
Surya, Vivek, and director Shankar September 15.
Kalaignar TV is distributed by
Sumangali Cable Vision, an MSO run by Kalanidhi Maran, who also
runs the rival Sun TV.
Prominent production houses
like Crazy Mohan's, AVM, Kavithalaya, and Annamalai Cine
Creations have been roped in to do quality serials.
Kalaignar TV may soon be
launching a 24-hour news channel and a music or movie channel.
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