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Vijay TV to launch on Singapore’s pay TV platform Starhub
MUMBAI: Singaporean pay-TV operator, StarHub, will launch Tamil channel, Vijay TV on StarHub Digital Cable. The channel will debut on 2 October 2006.
The info-communication company had recently announced that it will offer five international channels free to customers of StarHub Digital Cable using the digital and Digital Video Recorder (DVR) set-top boxes, and on top of that, offer an additional Chinese entertainment channel, Star Chinese Channel, to subscribers of its Chinese Entertainment Basic Group.
Singapore is the third market in the world, after India and the US to carry Vijay.
StarHub’s VP cable TV services Patrick Lim says, “The beauty of cable TV is its capacity to offer a wide range of niche programming to cater to the needs of our different audience segments. StarHub Digital Cable has been the sole operator offering 24-hour Tamil programming in Singapore, and we believe the community of local Tamil viewers will certainly appreciate what VIJAY will bring to their living rooms in terms of vibrant and appealing Tamil programmes.”
Star Regional (SEA) senior VP, ad sales, distribution and marketing Gautam Kiyawat says, “As one of the leading content providers of Tamil and Hindi programmes internationally, STAR is acutely aware of the viewing preferences of our Tamil audiences. Over the years, VIJAY has carved an identity as a dynamic Tamil entertainment channel infused with contemporary Indian culture, and we are very excited to extend VIJAY to audiences in Singapore.”
Fans of Tamil programmes can get the channel for $4.00 ($4.20 with GST) per month, upon the subscription of at least three Basic Groups from StarHub Digital Cable’s subscription plan. Customers will need StarHub’s digital or DVR set-top box in order to receive the channel.
Viewers can refer to the On-screen TV Guide or StarHub’s Online Programme Guide at www.starhub.com/cabletv for the schedule of the programmes on Vijay. Customers can call 1630 or 1633 to subscribe to the channel or visit the website for more information.
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.
