DTH: Will Tata give in to Maran's demands?
In a shocking expose, The New Indian Express has revealed that Dayanidhi Maran has been misusing his official position to coerce the Tata Group to add Sun Network as JV partner in the Tata – Newscorp DTH venture. The DTH space has been hotting up recently and all the major players want a piece of the action. Tata – Newscorp JV seems to be the most aggressive of the lot. It has been reported that Dayanidhi Maran even threatened the Tata Group that he will use his official position to withdraw all the approvals that are supposed to be granted to Tata Telecom.
The Tatas presently hold 80 per cent of the project and Murdoch 20 per cent. The Maran family has acquired a DTH license. But there is a rider to that. Under its terms the Sun TV cannot hold more than 20 per cent like the Star TV cannot hold more than 20 per cent in the Tata Sky project. It has to find a partner for 80 per cent and also investment of thousands of crores!
The Tatas presently hold 80 per cent of the project and Murdoch 20 per cent. The Maran family has acquired a DTH license. But there is a rider to that. Under its terms the Sun TV cannot hold more than 20 per cent like the Star TV cannot hold more than 20 per cent in the Tata Sky project. It has to find a partner for 80 per cent and also investment of thousands of crores!
Since the future belongs to DTH,Sun TV desperately needs to own DTH connectivity. That is why the Maran brothers, both Kalanidhi who runs Sun TV, and Dayanidhi who runs the ministry that is directly involved in DTH business, seem to have got interested in the Tata-Murdoch project.
This website's newspaper inquiries reveal that Kalanidhi Maran telephoned the Tata group chairman Ratan Tata and asked for a meeting. In the meeting he sought 33 per cent share in the Tata-Star DTH project with management rights. He demanded that Sun TV be given the shares at par, regardless of the real value.
This meant he not only wanted partnership but also at a huge concession. He also demanded to be included as promoter along with Tata and Murdoch.
Shocked by the brazen demand, Ratan Tata told him that it was Tatas’ project and they had no intention of parting with it to anyone. It was then that Dayanidhi Maran intervened.
I hope that New Indian Express and the rest of the media will do a follow up on this issue and ensure that such bullying can’t be tolerated. I think the opposition should raise a voice and ensure that Dayanidhi Maran doesn’t handle a ministry, which is even remotely related to his brother’s business.
Update: BJP demands Maran's ouster
posted by Kaps at
6:48 PM
13 Comments:
Dreamchaser's additional flick!
JAYA TV was advertising from morning about a telecase of Maran Brother's Monopoly in their 1:00 pm JAYA News (26.04.2006).
Guess what our dear SCV/Maran Bro's had to do ? They put their service down for entire tamil nadu for around 15 minutes. And the duration was supposed to be 15 minutes telecase in JAYA TV.
And exactly after 15 minutes the service came back live, but knowing their fool game, JAYA TV updated its users threw their famous scrolling news (which you can see beneath) that SUN TV's SCV (Sumangali Cable Vision) had done this wantedly cutting the service all over tamil nadu.
They also promised that the program would be telecasted sometime today. This is again a cheap act from Maran & Co.
I am not sure how far this is true, the situation made me talk that it could have been true.
May be if somone had noticed other than me, could update us more ?
- Dreamchaser
By
Anonymous, at 7:44 PM
both jayatv and suntv are from the same garbage truck.one is holding the liquor business and the other the media.
By
Surya, at 8:53 PM
http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/04/26/Marans-threatened-Tata-Vaiko.html
http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2006/04/26/Cho-condemns-Dhayanidhi-Maran.html
By
tekvijay, at 9:42 PM
This comes as no suprise.I have extensively written about the Maran's intimidation and strong-arm tactics used to further
business Empire
Marans represent the worst form of crony capitalism
Someone needs to call their bluff very soon.
Knowing the highly cultured and honourable individual person that Ratan Tata is ,I am sure he will not make any fuss about this and keep doing buisness ethically .
Luckily Tata is not a Brahminical Businessman .He is a Parsi.
Otherwise Karuna would have used the caste angle to counter this accusation
And nobody can accuse Tata's to be unethical and profit greedy business house.The social responsibility and philantrophy shown by them needs no elaboration
9000 crore worth Marans-Dont behave so cheaply with India'foresmost busines house
By
Prasanna, at 9:54 PM
This will add spice to the already hot election campaign in TN
By
Unknown, at 1:23 PM
Whether Tata is a Brahmin or not, who is crying wolf now? Which news paper published it? why? You people, answer yourself.
I very much expect the Brahmins to build temples for His Holiness Ratan Tata.
And, I have every reasons to believe that Tata is arm-twisting a people's representaive using Maran's brother's business interests.
What if I say, Tata's want to hide their business malpractices by questiong Maran's credibility so that they can avoid a Reliance-like punishment?
By
dfgfg, at 1:47 PM
@Prasanna : You are absolutely right in the comment that Ratan Tata is fortunately not a brahmin. I think tamil brahmins should convert en masse to some other religion to get out of the oppression that they are being subjected to, just like dalits and nadar's did. And besides, if they convert to some other religion, any crime committed against them will immediately be taken up by the minorities commission which will turn out to be pretty useful.
By
redrajesh, at 11:08 PM
i dont think so ratan tata will take it as a big thing...he is a born business man...but marans act is tooooo unethical...ivaloo naal local aa panitu,ippo national level aa....sick with these ppl...worst thing is v r getting used to these crap....
By
Anonymous, at 4:46 PM
Television asia website refers"Tata Sky DTH platform faces new hurdles
The Star Group’s joint venture Indian DTH platform, Tata Sky, has accused the telecommunications ministry of sitting tight on clearances required for the DTH platform’s launch. Tata Sky alleges that telecommunications minister, Dayanidhi Maran, faces a conflict of interest as he has a financial interest in the Sun Group, which has also applied for a DTH licence. Meanwhile, the Reliance group has buckled under Tata Sky objections and changed the name of its DTH platform from Sky Magic to Blue Magic. Industry rumour has it that Reliance is seeking a DTH joint venture with either Zee’s Dish TV, which is already up and running, or the Sun Group."
Please use "tata dth accuse maran" search in google and you will be returned with this cached info in the results...
By
Anonymous, at 7:22 PM
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:ljLki526aoYJ:www.tvasia.com.sg/home%3Fwid%3D16%26func%3DviewSubmission%26sid%3D12+tata+dth+accuse+maran&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3
By
Anonymous, at 7:23 PM
Ayya makkalae... manuda makkalae... ratan tata ratan tata soluringalae... tata enna born with industries-a ???? avan ethina kudumbangala kali panni ippo intha all business pannikittu irukkan ??
Utharanam:
Nama uril uppu tolilarkkal mootila uppu(salt) kondanthu vippanga.. Tata groups government-paesi iodine uppu thaan makkal sapidanum solli thangal product-a market panni.. Antha makkal vaithila uppa alli pottu tanga.. for all the ppls who are consumers not at all know abt this..
Tata pathi ippo seithiya solla aramichathu yaro..Vaiko... He is a distributor of tata products.. Why VAIKO supporting captialism ppls.. any idea... ??
By
Anonymous, at 11:19 AM
Are you having a biased liking towards TATA products and services?
In my view every Indian for the past 50 years has been using Tata’s products and services from their childhood. From the tooth brush; soaps to ceiling fan. I think every India has personal association with Tata’s product line and we are attached to the products or the business establishment whether you know it or not. So when unknown business men/Politician like Maran goes and does touch negotiation with Tata, its hot cake for our politicians. We see the arrogance in Maran.
Politics is all about people management. Politicians know if they let this business negotiation out to the public, the public will hate Maran because we all have a soft spot with Tata.
Does any one have a slighted idea how much the Tata’s own? You can’t even imagine the power and wealth Tata business establishment have in India. Do we want one company to have a monopoly over every thing we use in our lives or do you want some checks and balances? Do we want Tata to become richer and powerful? Or do we want other players.
I do believe Maran might have helped with the negotiations and all politicians in power do that in every country. In every country the cats (business men) and the running dogs (politicians) works together to get the economy going. This secret sauce is not understood by the public.
I would not take this issue very seriously and make a judgment call saying Maran is stupid and completely corrupt. His involvement has not affected any one in public.
By
Anonymous, at 12:58 PM
It's time the rest of India to unite and decide that we will not for any party having any connections with D.M.K,
Tamilians always create quarrels with their peaceful neighbouring states in the name of water,
There is only one way to save India ,:
DO NOT VOTE FOR ANY PARTY WHICH KEEPS ANY CONNECTION WITH D.M.K,
By
Anonymous, at 4:24 AM
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