Sun Network launches Tamil channel in U.S
Wednesday, 25 September 2002, 19:30 IST
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NEW YORK: Indian Americans with Tamil as their mother tongue will now be able to hear their language more often as Indian television group Sun Network has launched a Tamil channel in the U.S. Addressing a press conference at Shaan Restaurant here, Sun Network's managing director and chairman Kalanidhi Maran said the group is also making efforts to launch Gemini TV and Surya TV, the network's Telugu and Malayalam channels, soon. Present at the Sun Network's launch of the channel with Dish Network were H. Saxena, vice president programming, Ron Kukafka vice president international Dish Network, and Farooq Shamshudeen, international programme manager, South Asian services, Dish Network. "The Tamil channel was launched on September 12. But we decided to check the reception for a few days before announcing it," Kukafka said Monday. Maran said Sun Network has a viewership of about 27 million in India, besides a large presence in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. It is exploring the possibility of launching a service in Canada. Also present at the press conference were India's Permanent Representative to the U.N. V.K. Nambiar, and Consul General at New York Pramathesh Rath. In a brief statement, Nambiar welcomed the launch of Sun TV in the U.S. The service in the U.S. will be a 12-hour delayed version of the India service. "Keeping in mind various time zones, we have adjusted the service to suit the time here. Otherwise, viewers here will be seeing the breakfast show in the evening. But news will be telecast live about four times a day," said Kukafka. The service is available to viewers for the monthly price of $14.99. "To start the service, the customer should get the dish installed which will cost $79," said Kukafka. The channel will provide 24-hour coverage of news, blockbuster movies, children's programmes, game shows, music and educational programmes.
Source: IANS
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