QVC (UK)
QVC (UK)
QVC UK | |
---|---|
Launched | 1 October 1993 |
Owned by | QVC |
Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Sister channel(s) | QVC Beauty QVC Style QVC Extra |
Website | www.qvcuk.com [13] |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Freeview | Channel 16 Channel 35 (QVC Beauty) Channel 36 (QVC Style) Channel 111 (HD)[1] |
Satellite | |
Freesat | Channel 800 Channel 801 (QVC Beauty) Channel 802 (QVC Extra) Channel 803 (QVC Style) |
Sky | Channel 660 Channel 663 (QVC Style) Channel 677 (QVC Beauty) Channel 682 (QVC Extra) |
Astra 2G | 11493 H 22000 5/6 |
Cable | |
Virgin Media | Channel 740 Channel 741 (QVC Beauty) Channel 742 (QVC Style) |
Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 505 |
WightFibre | Channel 41 |
IPTV | |
Eir Vision | Channel 590 |
Streaming media | |
QVC UK Online | Watch live [14] |
TVPlayer | Watch live [15] (UK only) |
TVPlayer | Watch live [16]((+1 Timeshift))(UK only) |
QVC UK is a television shopping channel broadcast from the United Kingdom to the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was formed in 1993 when QVC, Inc. agreed to a deal with Sky TV to create a UK version of the US channel. "QVC – The Shopping Channel" first broadcast in the UK on 1 October 1993.
QVC UK | |
---|---|
Launched | 1 October 1993 |
Owned by | QVC |
Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Sister channel(s) | QVC Beauty QVC Style QVC Extra |
Website | www.qvcuk.com [13] |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Freeview | Channel 16 Channel 35 (QVC Beauty) Channel 36 (QVC Style) Channel 111 (HD)[1] |
Satellite | |
Freesat | Channel 800 Channel 801 (QVC Beauty) Channel 802 (QVC Extra) Channel 803 (QVC Style) |
Sky | Channel 660 Channel 663 (QVC Style) Channel 677 (QVC Beauty) Channel 682 (QVC Extra) |
Astra 2G | 11493 H 22000 5/6 |
Cable | |
Virgin Media | Channel 740 Channel 741 (QVC Beauty) Channel 742 (QVC Style) |
Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 505 |
WightFibre | Channel 41 |
IPTV | |
Eir Vision | Channel 590 |
Streaming media | |
QVC UK Online | Watch live [14] |
TVPlayer | Watch live [15] (UK only) |
TVPlayer | Watch live [16]((+1 Timeshift))(UK only) |
History
The original US channel was founded in 1986 in West Chester, Pennsylvania by Joseph Segel. It grew into a multinational corporation, specialising in televised home shopping. It now broadcasts in five countries to 141 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for Quality, Value, Convenience. However, unlike in the US, the expansion of the initialism is no longer used on air in the UK.
In 2008 QVC UK launched a multiscreen video service accessible via the interactive television layer, making three video streams available to Sky viewers via the red button:
QVC Live
QVC+1 (a time delayed service)
Today's Special Value presentation
QVC Beauty
On 26 October 2010 a second channel was launched in the UK, QVC Beauty, available to viewers of Freeview, Sky and Freesat.[4]
QVC HD, QVC Extra and QVC Style
QVC had planned to begin broadcasting in high-definition from September 2012, to be followed by the launch of two new 24-hour channels on Sky.[5] On 11 February 2013 Sparkle TV and Twinkle TV launched on Sky; however, as of 2013 QVC HD has yet to launch. On 1 July 2013, Twinkle TV was renamed QVC Style. Sparkle TV became QVC Extra on 12 August 2013, with both channels added to Freesat.[6] The following day saw the channels relaunch with availability expanded to Freeview via the connected red button on QVC Beauty.[7] In July 2014, QVC Extra launched on Freeview channel 57, but closed in 2015, while QVC Style launched on Freeview channel 36 in August 2016, replacing QVC +1. On 21 April 2015, QVC +1 HD launched on 21 April 2015, becoming the second high-definition timeshift service in the UK (after Channel 4 +1 HD). In 2016, 2017 and 2018, QVC Extra was temporarily rebranded as QVC Christmas. It will return on 4 October 2019.
QVC Active
QVC Active was an interactive television service made accessible using the red button on QVC UK's cable, Sky and digital terrestrial services. Across each enhanced television platform, QVC provided information including a 24-hour TV Guide, bestselling products of that day and an ability for the viewer to interact with QVC UK's inventory. Customers viewing the Sky and cable TV platforms could buy products using their set-top box. On 13 August 2013, QVC Active closed as a result of more customers using mobile devices for ordering.[7]
Operation in the UK
QVC UK operates from two main sites. From launch until June 2012, its headquarters and broadcasting facilities were at Marco Polo House, the former British Satellite Broadcasting headquarters in Battersea, London. These operations then moved to Chiswick Park,[8] a 'campus'-style development on the site of a former derelict London Transport bus depot in West London.[9] Its call centre and distribution warehouse is located in Kirkby, in the Liverpool City Region. These facilities were moved in 1998 from Liverpool's Harrington Dock. The company also has outlet stores in Warrington and Shrewsbury.
In June 2011, it was reported that QVC UK had begun carrying out trials of 3D broadcasting. This was merely an experiment, a spokesperson said.[10]
The channel broadcasts live from 9am to 1am (the remainder being repeated content) year round. QVC UK claims a market penetration of 15.4 million homes on cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial TV. The Astra 2E 'footprint' also takes in much of Western Europe. Retail sales for the year 2008 reached £360+ million.
Products
QVC organises its product range into nine distinct categories:
Beauty
Fashion
Shoes & Accessories
Jewellery
Home & Kitchen
Electronics
Garden & Leisure
Health & Wellbeing
Gifts
Current Presenters[11]
Simon Biagi
Charlie Brook
Anne Dawson
Chloe Everton
Debbie Flint
Dale Franklin
Jill Franks
Katherine Goldsmith
Pipa Gordon
Will Gowing
Jilly Halliday
Catherine Huntley
Jackie Kabler
Alison Keenan
Alex Kramer
Miceal Murphy
Eilidh Nairn
Katy Pullinger
Julia Roberts
Craig Rowe
Claire Sutton
Kathy Tayler
Alison Young
Regular Current Guests
Simon Browne
Rylan Clark-Neal
Richard Jackson
Ruth Langsford
Cait Penfold
Michael Perry
Andi Peters
Rosa Speyer
Rick Stein
Gok Wan
Lee Holbein
rupaul
Past presenters
Kara Baker
Julian Ballantyne
Sophia Barnes
Jon Briggs
Suzanne Evett
Harry Greene
Debbie Greenwood
Anthony Heywood
Katy John
Paul Lavers
Rob Locke
Claudia Sylvester
Kara Tritton
Steve Whatley
Carmel Thomas
Anna Cookson
Michaela hyde