Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday launched the cheapest cable services anywhere in the country when she pressed the button to start state-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd (ACTVL) to break the existing monopoly the Marans have in cable TV distribution in the state.
The revival of the government cable company will hit the Sun Cable Vision (SCV) that has had a stronghold over the cable business. Owned by the Maran brothers, Kalanithi and Dayanidhi, the SCV Multi System Operator (MSO) is the cash cow of the Sun TV group.
Jayalalithaa launched the cable TV service that would cost just Rs 70 per month for viewing 90 channels, against an average of upwards of Rs 200 per month charged by private players.
Re-launching the near defunct company, Jayalalithaa said "a monopoly system exists in the cable television distribution business and people were being charged high rates. As a result one family is profiteering due to the monopoly situation."