Arasu Cable gains steam in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK's poll promise of providing subsidised cable TV connection has gained momentum with the Jayalalithaa government appointing a party functionary to head the state-owned Cable TV Corporation and renewing its commitment to expand the services.Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, AIADMK's Tirupur district Youth Wing Secretary, will head Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited ACTCL, succeding IAS officers C Umashankar and Dr Santhosh Babu who were the Corporation chiefs. Radhakrishnan has been appointed by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in line with the government's policy to nationalise cable services, an apparent move against Sumangali Cable Vision, owned by media barons, Maran brothers -- Union Minister Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi-- which enjoys a near monopoly in this business in the state.The Arasu Cable TV took birth during the previous government headed by M Karunanidhi, reflecting the conflict within the first family at the time. In the wake of a survey on Karunanidhi's heir apparent in Marans's owned daily Dinakaran, projecting his son M K Stalin ahead of his brother M K Alagiri, the family ties had turned sour. However, they reconciled later. Susbequently, Karunanidhi, whose very party opposed earlier Jayalalithaa regime's move to nationalise cable services and successfully managed to scuttle it, re-introduced the same in the state with Umashankar IAS, as its chief. The scheme picked up pace with necessary infrastructure being put in place, but a patch-up between the feuding Marans and Karunanidhi slowed down ACTCL. Subsequently, Arasu Cable TV went dormant till the end of DMK's term that culminated in May 2011.Jayalalithaa had in her party's election manifesto, placed priority on nationalisation of cable services which was announced in the June 3 Governor's address also.A GO on Monday said that IT Secrertary Dr Babu, hitherto Chairman of ACTCL, had ceased to be its chief. The Government has also said that serious efforts were on to rejuvenate and expand the state-run cable business across the state.