bid tv

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bid tv
Launched	October, 2000
Owned by	sit-up Ltd
Audience share	0.1% (April 2008, [1])
Country	United Kingdom
Broadcast area	United Kingdom
Sister channel(s)	speed auction tv, price-drop tv
Website	www.bid.tv
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview	Channel 23
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 644
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 745

bid tv (known as bid-up.tv until 21 January 2005) is a digital television channel based in the UK that runs daily live auctions. It was the first channel of its kind in the world, and has become popular for offering a laid-back, friendly approach to its viewers. Banter is created through the presence of "auction assistants" who help to demonstrate products, as well as informing the viewer of upcoming auctions.

[edit] History

bid-up.tv was launched by its parent company, sit-up Ltd, in October 2000. It started by broadcasting 12 hours a day, much of which were pre-recorded, with auction graphics overlaid so people could bid despite the video itself being pre-recorded. It later extended its broadcasts to 17 hours a day (8am - 1am) and is now completely live inside these hours, with recorded teleshopping offers from TV Shopping Network at all other times.

The channel amassed a cult-following as it spread to various digital platforms. This growth in popularity can also be partly attributed to the use of David Dickinson, ex-presenter of the BBC television series Bargain Hunt, in various television advertising campaigns.

In June 2003 the company behind bid-up.tv launched a sister channel called price-drop.tv.

In April 2004, bid-up.tv introduced a new system for bidding known as Best Bidding. This now meant all bids acted as proxy bidding, so instead of the bid being entered at whatever is bid, the computer would now automatically bid-up to the value specified, and not over. At the end of the auction, everyone paid the same price as indicated in the on-screen "auction arrow", thus amounting to a uniform-price auction.

On the channel, an item was advertised with a specific quantity, and a bid-up from price triangle. Customers phoned in and bid up from the particular amount. The quantity was used to determine which customers 'win' the auction. For example, if there was a quantity of 50 for the product, then the top 50 bidders would win the auction.

In August 2004 bid-up.tv had an "Auction Choice" month, during which they featured both rising and falling price auction hours. The falling price auctions continued after this month and are now the only common auction type on the channel (except for when speed auction tv simulcasts with bid tv).

Prior to December 2004, each item also had a "guide price", described as being the manufacturer's recommended retail price or an average of prices from other retailers. However, these were removed following the collapse of shopping channel Auction World.tv, which was criticised for advertising misleading guide prices.

[edit] bid tv

In January 2005, the channel was renamed bid tv to reflect the fact that more of its auctions followed the price-drop tv method, meaning that bidders were only rarely bidding "up". bid tv no longer broadcast any live rising-price auctions, only featuring an occasional pre-recorded speed auction. A new graphic was added in October 2005 to show the start price of falling price auctions.

When bid-up.tv originally launched, one of the most popular features was the relaxed style in which the presenters and assistants would have a lot of freedom to interact with each other. For instance, the presenter whose shift was starting would come on air for the last few minutes of the previous presenter's shift and interact with them. However, although still relaxed, this presenter interaction seems to have been stopped with the launch of bid tv^{[citation needed]}. Despite the fact that bid tv no longer uses an auction hall theme, bid tv's presenters exclusively refer to the products they sell as 'lots' and to their customers as 'bidders'. When referring to the next item to be sold the presenters and assistants will say "Closing next..."

Early 2006 saw the bid tv website completely overhauled in an attempt to increase its user-friendliness and overall aesthetic appeal. Its new design was inspired by that of eBay, the world's most popular auction website, in an attempt to capitalise on its popularity.

On May 10, 2006, the on-screen graphics were changed so that products are now sold in pounds and pence, as opposed to just pounds, a change previously incorporated into price-drop tv.

In August 2006, a new graphic was introduced, showing the bid tv website address and a falling arrow. This is shown as soon as the assistant has shown what is coming up next, and introduces the presenter.

In mid-2007, bid tv began to sell products with choices. On certain products (often bedding or clothes) the customer was able to choose what size or colour they wanted the item in by pressing a certain button once on the phoneline. The graphics for these auctions are different showing the start price, the current price, the quantity of the 'main' choice and a list of other options. When the main choice item is sold out, the price is locked and is what everyone pays regardless of choice made. If another choice is selling faster, then 'limited' appears next to its name and the name vanishes when it has sold out.

As a celebration for bid tv's 7th birthday, in September and October 2007, the channel held a seven weekend megadrop promotion where at least one product each hour between 8:00 pm on Friday and 1:00 am on Sunday was sold for £1 plus postage. bid tv had run similar promotions in the past but this was the first time that bid tv used the price-drop tv name Megadrop.

In order to promote the sister channels of bid tv, (price-drop tv and speed-auction tv) a small preview of what is currently being sold on these channels before each product was introduced in January 2008.

[edit] Criticisms

bid tv uses premium rate phone numbers for both customer services and for bidding on the item ^[1]. Additionally, shipping and handling costs at least £7.99 for all items, yet this is not included in the price displayed on screen, (although it is mentioned in smaller text). ^[2]. Thus, each items costs at least £9.49 more than the most prominently displayed price. Customers are however able to place bids for items on the website (providing they are registered) so as to avoid the initial £1.50 charge, but not postage and packaging.

The ASA have upheld complaints against bid tv on two separate occasions [2], . In the most serious case they ruled that bid tv had overestimated the guide price of £1700 for "Black Agate Globes"; "Bid-up could only provide proof of one supplier that may have sold the globe for £1700."^[3] In fact, one supplier whom bid tv claimed sold the item for £1700 actually offered to sell the item for £265 with most companies offering the globe for considerably less than £1700: "between £250 and £500."^[3] bid tv was therefore found in breach of ASA broadcasting codes for providing accurate pricing.

[edit] Presenters

[edit] Present Permanent Hosts

• Andy Hodgson
• Lynn Taylor
• Peter Simon
• Andy Oliver
• Steve Macdonald
• Andrea Binks
• Danielle Fearnon
• Adam Heppenstall
• Peter Sherlock
• Mark Ryes
• Sean Macintosh
• Carmel Thomas

[edit] Freelancers

• Lisa Brash
• Adele Sica
• Katie Pilbeam
• Gemma Hadley

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official site
• sit-up Ltd Corporate
• Andy Hodgson Official Site
• Mark Ryes Official Site
• Lisa Brash Official Site
• Adele Sica Official Site