In the politically dominated Tamil satellite TV industry, the Maran brothers owned Sun TV continues to be on top with a viewership of 51.8 per cent.
A distant second was Kalaignar TV (8.6 per cent) launched last year by close relatives of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
KTV, an entertainment channel from Sun network, is third with a viewer base of 7.5 per cent and Vijay TV (6.4 per cent). Doordharshan's Pothigai TV (5.7 per cent), Sun Music (4.3 per cent), Jaya TV (4.2 per cent), Sun News (2.6 per cent) Makkal TV (1.1 per cent) and Raj TV have a viewer base of mere 0.9 per cent, a survey by the media science department of Loyola College here said.
The findings, conducted during September and October this year across Tamil Nadu, were collected from 3,025 respondents above 18 years old.
The survey revealed that Sun TV also was also dominant among the 18-25 age group with a viewer base of 44.4 per cent, while Vijay TV was second with 19.7 per cent.
About 62.2 per cent of viewers, cutting across party affiliations (except PMK), watched Sun TV. The channel also led the table among viewers in providing entertainment programmes, launching new programmes and in giving intellectual programmes among others, the survey said.
In giving priority to Tamil language, Makkal TV, promoted by PMK leader Dr Ramadoss, stood first among 32.1 per cent viewers, while Sun TV was at second spot with a viewer base of 26.9 per cent
The survey further said that serials continue to dominate among viewers followed by news, cinema and commedy programmes among others.
