New Delhi: The "political war" in the television studios is expected to intensify in Tamil Nadu, where almost all the TV channels are identified with some political parties, with actor-politician Vijayakant planning to launch a 24-hour entertainment venture to air his party's views.

The decision by Vijayakant, founder-leader of DMDK to launch a channel comes at a time when the political parties in Tamil Nadu are vying with each other to float channels in a bid to reserve place in the satellite TV arena - a sure shot way of reaching the drawing rooms of millions of people.

"Captain (Vijayakant) has decided to launch a TV channel and a fortnightly magazine. We have already started working on it. It will be a 24-hr entertainment channel with news bulletins," L K Sudeesh, party leader and the actor's brother-in-law, said.

Almost all the television channels which air news bulletins are identified with some or the other political parties in the state.

"This trend of parties starting television channel is not healthy at all. Tamil Nadu is a peculiar state when it comes to television channels where the political parties have started dominating the TV arena," media analyst Sasikumar said.

Since its launch on September 15,Kalaingar TV, promoted by Chief Minister Karunanidhi's family, has been functioning as the "mouthpiece" of both the party and the DMK government, while Jaya TV has long been identified as the official channel of AIADMK.
Source : PTI