Television in Tamil language

Television in the Tamil language traces its origins back to the 1990s. Key genres of television shows encompass serials, news programs, variety shows, game shows, movies, and documentaries. Many Indian-Tamil television programs are accessible on satellite and multicultural channels in overseas territories such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. The pioneering private channel was Sun TV from India.[1]

## History

[edit]

The inception of Tamil language small-screen programming began in 1963 in Singapore and the 1980s in India. Initially, broadcasts ran from 7:15 pm to 11:15 pm daily, featuring programs in Singapore's four official languages (Tamil, Malay, Chinese, and English). Tamil programming initially aired on Channel 5 and later also on Channel 8. On 30 March 1973, Channel 8 became the dedicated Tamil-language service, with limited programming, after a decision taken by RTS to streamline the language sof the two channels.[2] When Channel 8 started on 31 August 1963 with a pilot schedule, it aired the Tamil film Naan Petra Selvam.[3] In India, there was only one national channel, the government-owned Doordarshan, which commenced broadcasting programs in Indian languages in the 1980s,[4] although television signals had reached Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, on 15 August 1975.[5] Dubbing of Hindi series to Tamil became mandatory at DD Chennai in 1985.[6]

The 2000s marked the golden era for the Tamil language television industry, witnessing phenomenal growth in every dimension.

## Television by country

[edit]

### India

[edit]

Main article: List of Tamil-language television channels in India

The first Tamil television channels, Sun TV and DD Podhigai,[4][7] were launched on April 14, 1993, in India. Businessman Kalanithi Maran established the first Tamil language TV station, Sun TV, which commenced broadcasting on April 14, 1993,[8][9] initially offering four-and-a-half hours of programming per day under a time-sharing agreement with ATN. However, in January 1997, it transitioned to a 24-hour programming channel. The Sun TV Network recently launched a DTH service, making its channels available in several countries outside India.[citation needed]

On October 14, 1994, Raj TV[10] was launched by Rajendran and became the second most popular channel in Tamil in the early 2000s. The same year, another channel called Golden Eagle Communication was launched by N. P. V. Ramasamy Udayar,[11][12] which was later acquired by Star India in 2001. Star India took over the channel and rebranded it as Star Vijay.[13]

On August 22, 1999, Jaya TV was launched in honor of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa.[citation needed]

The most recent channels and networks in the Tamil-based Indian broadcasting industry include Jaya TV, Kalaignar TV,[14][15] Zee Tamil,[16] Polimer TV,[17] Colors Tamil,[18] Vendhar TV,[19] Makkal TV and Puthuyugam TV.[20] Currently, the major four cable general entertainment channels that dominate the TRP rivalry are Sun TV, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Kalaignar TV, and Colors Tamil.[citation needed]

### Singapore

[edit]

Singapore Television Twelve split the former Channel 12 on September 1, 1995, with the existing channel being replaced by Prime 12, including Tamil-language programming on its schedule. The first Singapore Tamils channel, Vasantham Central, was launched on January 30, 2000. It was founded and is owned by MediaCorp. On October 19, 2008, Vasantham Central was relaunched as Vasantham.[21]

### Malaysia

[edit]

Main article: Lists of Tamil-language media in Malaysia

The first Tamil Malaysians channel was Astro Vaanavil.[22] It was launched on June 1, 1996, and created by Astro. The second general entertainment channel was Astro Vinmeen HD. It was launched on October 18, 2013. The channel is co-owned by Southeast Asia's second richest man, Ananda Krishnan, and Astro Malaysia Holdings.[23][24]

Astro Vellithirai also launched on 16 April 2007 and is special for Tamil movie fans.

### Sri Lanka

[edit]

The Sri Lankan Tamils channel emerged in the early 2000s. On October 20, 1998, Shakthi TV was launched by Capital Maharaja.[25] It quickly became the most popular channel in Sri Lanka.

### France

[edit]

The first France-based Tamil language satellite television channel, Tamil Television Network, was launched in June 1997. Its main audience was Sri Lankan Tamils living in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.[26] It was the first Tamil-language TV station outside India. The channel ceased broadcasting on May 2, 2007, when Globecast stopped relaying the channel.[27]

### Canada

[edit]

The first Canadian-based Tamil language channel, Tamil One, was launched on September 6, 2001. Its main audience comprised Sri Lankan Tamils. The second entertainment channel, Tamil Vision International, based in Toronto, Ontario, was launched on September 7, 2001. It stands as the largest Tamil media outlet in North America.

The third entertainment channel, Tamil Entertainment Television, was officially launched on December 13, 2012, on Bell Fibe TV. It holds the distinction of being the first 24-hour Tamil channel in North America to broadcast in HD.

### United Kingdom

[edit]

IBC Tamil Television was launched in April 2015 at a ceremonial event in London.[28] It became the second Tamil channel in the United Kingdom after Deepam TV. The channel was inaugurated with over 1500 people in attendance. Deepam TV had been launched in June 2000 and broadcasts round the clock from its studios in Hayes.

In 2015, the company announced an investment of £2 million in state-of-the-art digital studio equipment. As a result, the channel now produces nearly all its video content in HD through its studios in the UK, India, and Sri Lanka.

### Australia

[edit]

The first Australian-Tamil television channel, Sigaram TV, was launched in the early 2000s. However, in September 2006, due to bankruptcy, Sigaram TV ceased operations, and its existing subscribers were acquired by Tharisanam TV.[29] In Europe, for a brief period in mid-2008, Tharisanam TV changed its name to Thendral TV due to a change in management.[30] However, in Australia, the channel continued to operate as Tharisanam TV.

In October 2008, the channel rebranded as Global Tamil Vision.[31] Today, Global Tamil Vision stands as one of the largest Tamil TV networks in the world.

## Streaming service (OTT)

[edit]

Online video streaming, also known as Over-the-top (OTT) services like Hotstar, Sun NXT, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video, Mediacorp, MX Player, and others, gained popularity among Tamil people after 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend posed a threat to the Tamil television drama industry.[32]

## Channels by country

[edit]

### General entertainment

[edit]

Channel  | Launch  | Owner  | Country

|
|
|

Sun TV | 14 April 1993  | Sun TV Network | India
Raj TV | 14 October 1994  | Raj Television Network
Star Vijay | 24 November 1994  | Disney Star
Kalaignar TV | 15 September 2007  | Kalaignar TV Private Limited
Mega TV | 19 November 2007  | Mega TV Network
Vasanth TV | 5 May 2008  | Vasanth & Co Group
Zee Tamil | 12 October 2008  | Zee Entertainment Enterprises
Polimer TV | 2009  | Polimer Media Private Limited
Puthuyugam TV | 23 October 2013  | SRM Group
Vendhar TV | 24 August 2014
Vaanavil TV  | 14 February 2016  | Unknown
Colors Tamil | 19 February 2018  | Viacom18
Blacksheep TV | 15 January 2023  | Kalaignar TV Private Limited
M Nadu TV  | 15 January 2023  | TN Networks private limited

## See also

[edit]

* List of Tamil-language television channels in India
* List of Tamil-language television channels
* Tamil television drama

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sun TV history". Economic Times. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
2. ^ "NEW TIMES FOR TV SCREENING FROM FRIDAY". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 March 1973. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
3. ^ "Television Singapura The Straits Times". The Straits Times. 31 August 1963. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
4. ^ a b "About the Kendra". Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
5. ^ Celebrating a milestone
6. ^ Southern Comfort, TV and Video World, September 1985
7. ^ "Regional Language Satellite Service". Doordarshan. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
8. ^ Menon, Jaya (8 November 2005). "Karunanidhi wife pulls out stake in Sun TV". The Indian Express.
9. ^ "Rediff India Abroad, April 28, 2006 – Kalanithi Maran: A 'Sunshine' story, by Sanjiv Shankaran and S. Bridget Leena in New Delhi". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
10. ^ "The Economic Times". indiatimes.com.
11. ^ "From Booze To News". Outlook India.
12. ^ "Why UTV bought Vijay TV". Indian Television.
13. ^ "Star India buys out UTV's stake in Vijay TV". The Economic Times.
14. ^ "Kalaignar TV set to attract viewers with new launches". www.afaqs.com. 29 October 2009.
15. ^ "TV series on DMK patriarch Karunanidhi's life from Nov 2". www.hindustantimes.com. 31 October 2019.
16. ^ "Zee launches Tamil channel". financialexpress.com. 12 October 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
17. ^ "The battle for original Tamil TV content". The Times of India. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
18. ^ "Viacom18 enters Tamil market with launch of Colors Tamil". The Economic Times. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
19. ^ "Vendhar TV begins". Dinamalar. 25 August 2014.
20. ^ "Puthuyugam spruces up prime time". The Times of India. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
21. ^ Wong, Alicia (1 March 2008). "Dedicated Indian and kids TV channels". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
22. ^ Sankaran, Chitra; Pillai, Shanthini (2011). "Transnational Tamil television and diasporic imaginings". International Journal of Cultural Studies. 14 (3): 277–289\. doi:10.1177/1367877910391867. S2CID 145197401.
23. ^ "Singtel TV : Channels & On Demand : Channels : CH626 Astro Vinmeen HD". Archived from the original on 12 October 2015.
24. ^ "Astro debuts S.E.A.'s first 24-hour Tamil HD channel | OnScreenAsia.com". Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
25. ^ "Shakthi TV". Dialog. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
26. ^ Anbarasan, Ethirajan (February 2000). "Sri Lankan expats find a guardian angel". UNESCO Courier. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
27. ^ "France suspends TTN broadcast". TamilNet. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
28. ^ "Asian Television Network – Canada – Multicultural – South Asian TV – ATN IBC Tamil". Asiantelevision.com. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
29. ^ "Tharisanam TV Channel 1 Commences on THAI PONGAL DAY in Australia and Newzealand". Tamil Sydney. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
30. ^ "Breaking News: The LTTE TV Tharishanam goes off the air from today onwards". Asian Tribune. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
31. ^ "Television Broadcast Licensing Update October 2008". Licensing updates. Ofcom. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
32. ^ Puthiyakath, Hashim Hamza; Goswami, Manash Pratim (6 May 2021). "Is Over the Top Video Platform the Game Changer over Traditional TV Channels in India? A Niche Analysis". Asia Pacific Media Educator. 31: 133–150\. doi:10.1177/1326365X211009639. ISSN 1326-365X. S2CID 235405617.

* v
* t
* e

Television in Tamil language

Genre|

* Tamil television drama
* Tamil soap operas
* Tamil streaming television series

By year|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Television in India

By language|

* Assamese
* Bengali
* Bhojpuri
* English
* Gujarati
* Hindi
* Kannada
* Konkani
* Malayalam
* Marathi
* Meitei (Manipuri)
* Nepali
* Odia
* Punjabi
* Tamil
* Telugu
* Urdu
* more

Direct-broadcast satellite|

* DD Free Dish
* Sun Direct
* Dish TV
* Videocon d2h
* Zing Digital
* Tata Play
* Airtel digital TV

* v
* t
* e

Tamil-language media

Newspapers, magazines and other periodicals

| Newspapers|

| India|

* Dina Thanthi
* Dinaboomi
* Dinakaran
* Dinamalar
* Dinamani
* Dinasudar
* Hindu Tamil Thisai
* Maalai Malar
* Makkal Kural
* Malai Murasu
* Namadhu Amma
* Nellai Maalai Murasu
* Tamil Murasu
* Theekkathir
* Viduthalai

Defunct newspapers
Dinavartamani
Kannagi
Swadesamitran

|

Malaysia|

* Makkal Osai
* Malaysia Nanban
* Tamil Nesan

Singapore|

* Tamil Murasu
* Vannathirai

Sri Lanka|

* Sudar Oli
* Thinakaran
* Thinakkural
* Uthayan
* Virakesari

Magazines|

| India|

* Ananda Vikatan
* Kalki
* Kumudam
* Kungumam
* Nakkheeran
* Netaji
* Puthiya Thalaimurai
* Tharasu

|

Radio

| Stations|

| India|

* All India Radio
* Rainbow FM
* Gold FM
* BIG FM 92.7
* Gyan Vani
* Hello FM
* Radio City
* Radio Mirchi
* Radio One
* Suryan FM

|

Malaysia|

* Minnal FM
* Raaga

Singapore|

* Oli 96.8FM

Sri Lanka|

* FM99
* Shakthi FM
* SLBC Tamil Commercial Service
* SLBC Tamil National Service
* Sooriyan FM
* Tamil FM
* Theydal FM
* Vasantham FM
* Vettri FM

Television

| Stations|

| India|

* Adithya TV
* Chutti TV
* Colors Tamil
* DD Chennai (DD1)
* DD Coimbatore
* DD Madurai
* DD Pudhucherry
* Jaya TV
* K TV
* Kalaignar Seithigal
* Kalaignar TV
* Makkal TV
* Mega TV
* News Tamil 24×7
* News7 Tamil
* News18 Tamil Nadu
* News J
* Tamil TV (DD5)
* Polimer TV
* Polimer News
* PuthiyaThalaimurai TV
* Puthuyugam TV
* Raj TV
* Raj Digital Plus
* Raj Musix
* Raj News 24X7
* Star Vijay
* Vijay Super
* Sun Life
* Sun Music
* Sun News
* Sun TV
* Thanthi TV
* Vasanth TV
* Vendhar TV
* Zee Tamil
* Zee Thirai

|

Malaysia|

* Astro Vaanavil
* Astro Vellithirai
* Astro Vinmeen HD
* Astro Box Office Movies Thangathirai

Singapore|

* MediaCorp Vasantham

Sri Lanka|

* Athavan TV
* Nanban TV
* Dan Tamil Oli TV
* Nethra TV
* Shakthi TV
* Vasantham TV

Australia, Europe and Middle East|

* Deepam TV
* IBC Tamil
* Global Tamil Vision (GTV)

Canada and United States|

* ATN Jaya TV
* Tamil One
* Tamil Entertainment Television (TET)
* Tamil Vision International (TVI)

Defunct stations|

Tamil Television Network (TTN)
Tharisanam TV

Websites

* Dinakaran-India
* Dina Thanthi-India
* Tamil Mirror-Sri Lanka
* IPD Tamil

* v
* t
* e

Television in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template