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Big Deal TV eyes 50% market share of Tamil Nadu’s home shopping industry
MUMBAI: Tapping into the growing home shopping market in India, which is currently valued at Rs 40 billion, Akshay Kumar and entrepreneur Raj Kundra have expanded their offering into the South market with the launch of Big Deal TV.
With the Indian home shopping market expected to rise more than five fold over the next five years, Big Deal TV aims to own 50 per cent of the total market share of the entire home shopping industry in Tamil Nadu.
After launching their Hindi home shopping channel Best Deal TV earlier this year, Kumar and Kundra have joined hands with South actor Chiyaan Vikram to launch their second home shopping channel – Big Deal TV. The celebrity driven 24/7 free to air (FTA) home shopping channel for the Tamil Nadu market will go on air from 18 June, 2015. It will be available across all major cable and DTH platforms across Tamil Nadu as well as online.
Best Deal TV Group founder of companies Raj Kundra said, ”We are pleased to launch our second home shopping channel within such a short span of time. We have brought the same celebrity shopping concept to Tamil Nadu, where stars are held in high regard. I thank Mr. Chiyaan Vikram for sharing our vision and partnering with us for Big Deal TV. We will not only use star appeal to attract customers but we will also focus on quality. Big Deal TV promotes products that stand out from the crowd and offer great value at the same time. I am confident our CEO and co-owner Mr. Gaurav Garg, who comes with a huge wealth of knowledge, will do wonders in the south market.”
Garg added, ”At Big Deal TV we aim to own 50 per cent of the total market share of the entire home shopping industry in Tamil Nadu whilst focusing on 100 per cent customer retention. We are extremely happy and lucky to have Vikram as a partner and brand ambassador for Big Deal TV. The channel is committed towards offering great value to its customers at an affordable price ranging between Rs 999 to Rs 8,999. Customer delight is our prime goal hence it becomes important for us to maintain a high level of quality.”
Kumar said, ”After a successful launch in the Hindi speaking market, the second channel has been launched to cater to the Tamil speaking audience. Big Deal TV offers value-for-money deals while keeping quality and convenience in mind.”
Vikram said, ”I am very excited to be launching Tamil Nadu’s first celebrity driven home shopping channel. It’s a unique concept and the online and TV commerce space is growing day by day. I will also be launching my range of products on Big Deal TV, which are under development and will be announced shortly. We will stay true to our name and promise, to offer our customers some really BIG deals. As our tag line goes Big Deal TV Bestest Mattumae.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
