Exit Sun for tarnishing son: Will DMK turn to new channel?

Chennai, May 21 (UNI) Following its fallout with Sun TV, the ruling DMK appeared to have turned to Raj TV, another popular Tamil satellite channel for support.

Raj TV has announced the launch of a new channel, called ''Kalaignar TV'', triggering speculation that it had the patronage of DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who is popularly known as ''Kalaignar'' (artist).

When contacted by UNI, Raj TV Managing Director M Rajendran, however, downplayed media speculations that the new channel had the patronage of DMK leadership.

''Kalaignar TV'' would be the first of 11 channels we have planned to start, but it has nothing to do with the DMK Chief, who is known as ''Kalaignar'' in political circles for many decades.

''Kalaignar'' means artist in Tamil...even Superstar Rajnikanth is a ''Kalaignar'' and it does not necessarily mean Mr Karunanidhi'', Mr Rajendran pointed out.

He said to be launched before July, it would be a news cum entertainment channel, he said, claiming that it would be nuetral as far as news bulletins are concerned, though it is expected to toe the DMK's line.

He dismissed as speculation reports that the new channel would be launched on June three, conciding with the 85th birth day of Mr Karunanidhi.

On his reported remarks that the new channel ''will function in the same way the Sun TV had functioned'', Mr Rajendran explained that this meant that ''Kalaignar TV'' would have news and entertainment content similar to Sun TV and not that it would toe the DMK line.

However, political circles believed that ''Kalaignar TV'' has the blessings of Mr Karunanidhi and the DMK's ''Rising Sun'' election symbol is likely to figure in the new channel's logo.

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