Mangalam TV was an Indian 24-hour Malayalam-language free-to-air news channel headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
 Final logo used from 2017 to 2022 | |
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Indian sub-continent, Middle East, Europe, North America |
| Headquarters | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Programming | |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Mangalam Publications |
| History | |
| Launched | 26 March 2017 |
| Closed | 31 January 2022 |
| Links | |
| Website | Dissolved |
The channel ran into financial troubles and shut down all operations by the end of 2022. In early 2023, South Indian Bank confiscated its assets, including studio and equipment.[1]
Controversy
editOn its launch day,[2] Mangalam TV aired a telephonic audio clip in which Transport Minister AK Saseendran was allegedly heard speaking in a sexually explicit way to someone whom the channel claimed was a housewife.[3][4][5] Saseendran resigned as minister the same day. The Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, had inaugurated the channel launch.[6]
After initially denying allegations of a smear campaign,[7] Mangalam TV's CEO Ajith Kumar eventually apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done by a female journalist employed by the channel.[8]
On 4 April, Kumar and four media people of the channel were arrested by the Kerala Police for airing an "obscene conversation" and for criminal conspiracy.[5][9]
Later, Saseendran was acquitted in the case after the complainant, who had earlier alleged sexual harassment, turned hostile in court; he returned as Transport Minister.[10][11]
References
edit- ↑ "ശശീന്ദ്രനും പൂച്ചക്കുട്ടിയും... മംഗളം പൂട്ടി; കടം കേറി മുടിഞ്ഞു മംഗളം ചാനൽ ലേലത്തിന്,..." www.malayalivartha.com.
- ↑ "mangalam tv: Launch-day sleaze puts TV CEO, four journalists in headlines | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 April 2017.
- ↑ "Minister A K Saseendran phone talk Mangalam tv exclusive launching YouTube 360p - YouTube". youtube.com. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ "Kerala minister AK Saseendran quits over alleged obscene phone call with woman". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- 1 2 "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ Akshay (6 March 2017). "ചാനല് മത്സരം കൊഴുപ്പിക്കാന് മംഗളം ടെലിവിഷനും; മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി നിലവിളക്ക് കൊളുത്തി ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്തു". malayalam.oneindia.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ "'Will you stop journalism if HONEY TRAP proved'?; Mangalam CEO tongue tied in Editors Hour - YouTube". youtube.com. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ "Mangalam TV CEO apologises for sting against former minister". The Indian Express. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ Legal, India (11 April 2017). "Trouble in store for Mangalam TV". India Legal. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ "NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ↑ "After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet". The Financial Express. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.