(17 February 2009 9:30 pm)

BANGALORE, 17 February: Clearly, politics and television go hand in hand in Tamil Nadu. Close on the heels of the launch of the Tamil comedy channel ‘Aditya’ by the Maran Brothers-owned Sun, the Kalaignar Television Network owned by their grand uncle M Karunanidhi’s family began testing its own Tamil comedy channel Siripoli on Valentine's Day, February 14.

The official launch is slated for this Saturday, 21 February. Siripoli means the sound of a laugh in Tamil. A "Free Flowers for Your Valentine" scheme was lined up for the launch of 'Siripoli' Social Media India Ltd (SMIL), in which all Kalaignar network viewers based out of Chennai are given an opportunity to have free flowers sent to their Valentine. The twist in the tale is that the recipient received a cauliflower. - the official marketing partner of Kalaignar Television Network

According to sources at SMIL, the channel is presently available on Sun's SCV and the state-run Arasu network and on the DTH platform on DishTV. Talks are on with Tatasky for carrying the signal on its DTH platform.

Kalaignar already runs Kalaignar TV (a general entertainment channel), Isaiaruvi (Tamil Music Channel) and Seithigal (Tamil News Channel). The Tamil TV space has around 25 channels with at least two more GEC channels – Palimar and Captain TV - awaiting launch clearances.

Also Read : Sun TV gets funny; comedy channel Aditya launches 8 Feb