 | |
| Programming | |
|---|---|
| Picture format | 576i (16:9SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Qurate Retail Group |
| Sister channels | QVC Beauty QVC Style QVC Extra QVC+ (streaming service) |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 October 1993 |
| Links | |
| Website | www.qvcuk.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 16 (QVC) Channel 37 (QVC2) |
QVC UK is a televisionshopping channel broadcast from theUnited Kingdom to the United Kingdom andIreland. It was formed in 1993 whenQVC, Inc. agreed to a deal withSky TV to create a UK version of the US channel. "QVC – The Shopping Channel" first broadcast in the UK on 1 October 1993.
The originalUS channel was founded in1986 inWest Chester, Pennsylvania byJoseph Segel. It grew into amultinational corporation, specialising in televisedhome shopping. It now broadcasts in five countries to 141 millionconsumers. The name is aninitialism—standing forQuality,Value,Convenience. However, unlike in the US, the expansion of the initialism is no longer used on air in the UK.
The UK venture launched on 1 October 1993, becoming the UK's first full-time home shopping channel, and in 1998 the UK venture turned its first net profit (£12.5 million), against a loss of £228,000 in 1997.[1] Originally 20% owned by Sky, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the US broadcaster in 2004.[2]
In 2008 QVC UK launched a multiscreen video service accessible via theinteractive television layer, making three video streams available toSky viewers via the red button:
In February 2020, QVC UK had a whole new rebrand with a whole new logo.
On 26 October 2010 a second channel was launched in the UK,QVC Beauty, available to viewers ofFreeview,Sky andFreesat.[3]
The channel broadcasts from 4:00 am to 2:00 am daily on Freeview channel 35. 2:00 am QVC Beauty HD on Freeview channel 112 only broadcasts from 2:00 am to 4:00 am daily due to the channels over rating.
QVC Beauty HD ceased broadcasting on Freeview with the closure of the COM7 multiplex, followed by the SD version on 21 June 2023.
QVC had planned to begin broadcasting inhigh-definition from September 2012, to be followed by the launch of two new 24-hour channels onSky.[4] On 11 February 2013 Sparkle TV and Twinkle TV launched on Sky. 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.[5] The following day saw the channels relaunch with availability expanded to Freeview via the connected red button on QVC Beauty.[6] 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. QVC Style changed its hours to 2:00 am to 4:00 am on 31 March 2020, allowing QVC Beauty to extend its hours. On 21 April 2015, QVC +1 HD launched on Freeview channel 111, becoming the second high-definition timeshift service in the UK (afterChannel 4 +1 HD). From 2016 to 2018, QVC Extra was temporarily rebranded as QVC Christmas. QVC Extra launched onVirgin Media on 27 July 2021. QVC HD ceased broadcasting on Freeview with the closure of the COM7 multiplex. QVC HD was later launched on Freesat and Sky in April 2022.[7]
QVC Style ceased broadcasting on Freeview on 21 June 2023,[8] though it continues on other platforms.[9]
QVC Active was aninteractive television service made accessible using the red button on QVC UK'scable,Sky anddigital terrestrial services. Across each enhanced television platform, QVC provided information including a 24-hourTV Guide, bestselling products of that day and an ability for the viewer to interact with QVC UK's inventory. Customers viewing theSky and cable TV platforms could buy products using theirset-top box. On 13 August 2013, QVC Active closed as a result of more customers using mobile devices for ordering.[6]
The UK version of QVC2 launched exclusively on Freeview on 21 June 2023, replacing QVC Beauty and QVC Style.[10] On other platforms QVC Beauty and QVC Style continue as separate services.[11]
The structure of the QVC channels in the UK is different than in the US, so the role that QVC2 plays is somewhat different. QVC2 in the US shows repeats of QVC's programming, while QVC2 in the UK shows fashion, beauty, home, and garden-related programmes.[12]
QVC UK operates from two main sites. From launch until June 2012, its headquarters and broadcasting facilities were atMarco Polo House, the formerBritish Satellite Broadcasting headquarters inBattersea, London. These operations then moved to Chiswick Park,[13] a 'campus'-style development on the site of a former derelictLondon Transport bus depot in West London.[14] Its call centre and distribution warehouse is located inKirkby,Knowsley, inMerseyside. These facilities were moved in 1998 from Liverpool'sHarrington Dock. The company also hadoutlet stores inWarrington andShrewsbury, however the Shrewsbury store closed permanently in 2020, leaving the Warrington store as the company's only physical outlet.[citation needed]
In June 2011, it was reported that QVC UK had begun carrying out trials of3D broadcasting. This was merely an experiment, a spokesperson said.[15]
The channel broadcasts live from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, with the remaining hours being repeated content. QVC UK claims a market penetration of 15.4 million homes oncable,satellite, anddigital terrestrial TV. TheAstra 2E footprint also takes in much of WesternEurope. Retail sales for the year 2008 reached £360+ million.[citation needed]
QVC organises its product range into nine distinct categories:
QVC also stock a wide range of Christmas Products, with Christmas items available from 25 July when the Channel Celebrates "Christmas in July".
Source:[16]