QVC (UK)
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| QVC | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Launched | 1 October 1993 |
| Owned by | QVC |
| Audience share | 0.2% (February 2007, [1]) |
| Website | www.qvcuk.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 16 |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 630 |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 740 |
QVC is a digital television station broadcasting in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1993 when QVC, Inc. formed a deal with BSkyB to create a UK version of the channel. QVC—The Shopping Channel first broadcast in the UK on 1 October.
Contents |
[edit] History
The United States channel was formed in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is a multinational corporation, specialising in televised home shopping. It was founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel. QVC broadcasts in four major countries to 141 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for "Quality, Value, Convenience"—ostensibly, the three pillars of Segel's vision for the company. However, unlike QVC USA, this initialism is not used on air anymore for QVC UK.
[edit] Operation in the UK
The UK arm of the company operates from two venues in the United Kingdom. Corporate headquarters and broadcasting facilities are located at Marco Polo House, in London, while call centre and distribution facilities are situated in Knowsley, on Merseyside. Prior to 1998, these facilities were based at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
QVC UK runs two small outlet stores, one in Warrington, the other in Shrewsbury.
The channel broadcasts live 17 hours a day (although it runs 24 hours a day), 364 days a year, to 15.4 million viewers of cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial services in the UK. Satellite also relays the channel across much of mainland Europe. Retail sales for the year 2004 reached £265 million.
[edit] QVC Active
QVC Active is an interactive service available on the QVC UK channel. It is available in the UK on cable, satellite, and digital terrestrial. It provides information including a 24 hour TV Guide, best selling products of that day and on Sky Digital and some cable television services, it allows the user to purchase products.
