There was a time once when people used to determine when their kids should stop playing and start doing their homeworks just by looking at the TV.“No mom, it isn't 8 yet. Give me 5 more minutes.”
“Son, you better come and start your lessons. The news has begun.”
That was the power of SUN TV. The impact SUN TV news had on Tamil people was tremendous. This was a long time ago(even before the big split).
It was the period when only English and Hindi channels were considered to have the best picture quality. It was the period when channel timings would question the accuracy of your watch. Be it your Rolex or Rado. It was the period when PEPSI dominated Coke in the state. It was the period when SUN TV had monopoly over the cable tv industry of Tamil Nadu.
The SUN TV has many laurels to its name. Its viewership base was unmatched. The TRPs its shows generated were awesome And to top it all, it had great picture quality, its most important USP. And being a politically inclined channel (in its heydays), it had no dearth of controversies either. One would see Kalaignar Karunanidhi for all the right reasons during his tenure in power, then Jayalalitha for all the wrong reasons if it was her tenure. It was the media power of the SUN Network that made the public revolt against Jayalalitha after search operation at her residence revealed her huge collection of clothes and apparel. It was the same media power that created public outcry when Karunanidhi was dragged to prison from his residence at midnight.
It wouldn't be wrong to say SUN TV and the DMK shared a mutual symbiotic relationship. SUN TV played a significant role in aiding the DMKs fight against its opposition and DMK played a significant part in increasing SUNs popularity. Who would have imagined in their wildest dreams that such an alliance would fall apart? As it had to be, the split was ugly and violent even paving way for a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Has the SUN network gained anything post the split? Yes, it definitely has. It has gained CREDIBILITY, the one factor SUN TV lacked right from its birth. Being tagged a political channel and to survive a long haul with the same is a miraculous feat. DMK, over the years, has won and lost elections. But SUN TV has remained the peoples favourite during these times. That is a big accomplishment. Shedding its pro-DMK tag, the SUN Network has done immensely well in their fightback post the split. It will take some time before they regain the things they lost during the split up.
Waiting for the SUN to rise again.
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