| MUMBAI:
The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has announced that it would start phase one
of its free colour TV distribution plan with the purchase of 30,000 units. The plan is one of the key
elements of the DMK's promise to the electorate of the southern Indian state that
if voted to power it would provide colour TVs to families not owning them. The
date fixed for distribution of free TVs is 15 September. The localities where
the sets will be distributed have also been identified.
In the second and main phase,
a global tender would be issued, a release issued by the state government said.
According to media reports, if fully implemented, the whole exercise would
involve the distribution of 8 million 14-inch colour TV sets. Considering that
the total number of CTVs sold in the country last fiscal was 10.5 million, whichever
company ultimately wins the contract will have a bonanza on its hands. How much
this exercise will ultimately cost is still unclear though with media reports
quoting figures ranging from Rs 10 billion to as high as Rs 56 billion. | 
