| MUMBAI:
HomeShop18, the 24-hour home shopping channel from Network18 Group, is in talks
with the direct-to-home (DTH) players to take it beyond traditional cable networks.
While
projecting its vision for the year 2009, the company claims of some robust plans
to strengthen its position in the virtual retail space by focusing on customers,
reach, infrastructure, products and services. Also,
the channel is planning to tap markets like Kolkata, and a few “Tier 2”
towns in Madhya Pradesh to complete the pan India platform. HomeShop18
CEO Sundeep Malhotra said, “Over the last year we have been successful in
building credibility of this domain and with our steady increasing success and
wide expansion plans, we look forward to a break even by mid- 2009.”
The channel
will be bringing new categories and brands on board. HomeShop18 will expand its
foot print from 19 product categories to selling services like insurance and holiday
packages on television. The
channel is planning to invest further in the infrastructure and logistical front.
The call center will be expanded by adding 150 seats. Cash on delivery facility
will be available to more towns and delivery time for metros will be brought down
by 30 per cent. Also, more payment options like cash cards, EMI payment options
through HDFC and Citibank credit cards will be introduced. | 
