DMK-backed Kalaignar TV starts telecast

The DMK-backed Kalaignar TV, a Tamil satellite channel, began beaming its programmes today - the 99th birth anniversary of DMK founder late C N Annadurai.

DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who is called Kalaignar by his followers, in a message said everybody was saying that projects inaugurated by him have become a runaway success.

"The promoters of some projects, which have become a huge success, have distanced themselves from me,' he said in an obvious reference to the Maran brothers whose Sun TV has become a household name in the state.
The brothers had distanced themselves from the DMK due to problems between the families of Karunanidhi and the late Murasoli Maran.

In a bid to attract viewers, the channel had signed up leading film personalities like K Balachander, Bharathiraja, Kushboo and A V M Saravanan to provide content.

In another bid to outshine Sun, the channel has drawn newspersons from the Sun group, and timed its newscast half an hour ahead of Sun.

It has also got the telecast rights of the latest Tamil films like Mozhi, a small-budget but runaway success, the Rajinikant-starrer Sivaji and another hit Imsaiarasan.