The Sumangali Cable Vision, a part of the Sun Network owned by Kalanidhi Maran, grandnephew of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, suffered a setback on Wednesday as the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled its licence to operate in Chennai city. Subscribers of SCV — who have been watching their favourite channels — were in for a shock when they saw the company’s message on their screens asking them to switch over to other cable services.
No reason has been given for the cancellation of the licence and the company management remained tight-lipped over the issue. later in the day, the Sun Network management approached the Madras High Court with a request to quash the Ministry’s order as well as restrain the Press from publishing the news. Justice Ramasubramaniam, before whom the matter came up, adjourned the matter to Thursday and asked the Standing Counsel for the Central Government to get instruction in this regard.
The Sun Network is South India’s largest private satellite TV network. It has private FM radio stations and owns newspapers and a number of publications. Dayanidhi Maran, younger brother of Group Chairman Kalanidhi Maran, was the Minister of Information Technology and telecommunications in the UPA-1 Government and a Minister of Textiles in the UPA-2. He had to quit the ministership following the 2G scam when it was alleged that he was instrumental in the Sun Group making pecuniary gains by forcing the sale of Aircel, owned by Chennai-based tycoon Sivasankaran to Maxis, a Singapore company owned by Ananthakrishnan.
Following the Airtel-Maxiux deal, the Sun Network reportedly received kickback in the form of investment to the tune of Rs600 crore.
idiot box paradox
6 No reason has been given for the cancellation of the licence & the company management remained tight-lipped over the issue
6 Meanwhile, the Sun Network management approached the Madras High Court with a request to quash the Ministry’s order as well as restrain the Press from publishing the news
6 Justice Ramasubramaniam, before whom the matter came up, adjourned the matter to Thursday and asked the Standing Counsel for the Central Government to get instruction in this regard
6 The Sun Network is South India's largest private satellite TV network. It has private FM radio stations and owns newspapers and a number of publications