Sun Network buys Tamil daily Dinakaran

The Economic Times: "Sun Network�s Kalanithi Maran has acquired the No 3 Tamil daily Dinakaran for an undisclosed sum. This marks Mr Maran�s entry into the Tamil newspaper market, and the first instance of a major functional Tamil newspaper brand being acquired by another media group. Historically, the Tamil newspaper market has only seen splits and divisions amid promoter families, with past acquisitions primarily restricted to title rights of dailies that had ceased publication.

Promoted by the late KP Kandasamy (son-in-law of SP Adhithanar who founded the leading Tamil daily Daily Thanthi), Dinakaran has nine editions with an estimated combined daily circulation of above 3 lakh copies. At present, the two leading Tamil dailies are Daily Thanthi and Dina Malar.

Besides, four editions of leading Tamil eveninger Malai Murasu are also under the control of the Dinakaran administration, an offshoot of the past division of the family business. These will now also come into the Sun Network fold. The Dinakaran group being managed by K Kumaran, Mr Kandasamy’s son. The group also publishes three Tamil weeklies, Yogalakshmi (focused on lottery), Velai Vazhikaati (an employment magazine) and Vaniga Ulagam (a trade and business magazine).

For over a year now, the market has been abuzz with talk of Sun Network’s impending entry into the daily newspaper segment. The choices thrown around were either English, Tamil or Telugu. To add to the confusion, Mr Maran had himself left the options open, even while indicating his plans to enter the newspaper segment.

During the period, Sun Network aggressively promoted the group magazine Kungumam through its channels and FM radio. Today, Kungumam has become the No 1 Tamil weekly magazine with a readership of 55.71 lakh, as per the latest NRS 2005 figures. It not only toppled the leading Tamil weeklies Kumudham and Anandha Vikadan, it has also become India’s fourth-largest selling magazine.

Sun Network has presence in television and FM radio. Dinakaran’s nine editions are spread across major cities and towns including Chennai, Vellore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Thirunelveli, Pondicherry and Bangalore. "