QVC
 | This article contains promotional content. (September 2010) |
| Country | USA |
|---|---|
| Network | QVC |
| Headquarters | West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Liberty Media |
| History | |
| Founder | Joseph Segel |
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – from September 30 – QVC Italy to 160 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for Quality, Value, Convenience.
Corporate history
QVC was founded on June 13, 1986 by Joseph Segel. One of the first brands to sign a two year deal with QVC was Sears products. Its first live broadcast took place at 7:30 PM ET on November 24 of that year, reaching 7.6 million TV homes. The corporation later set a new record for first full-year fiscal sales for a new public company of $112 million.[1]
Initially broadcast live from 7:30 PM ET until midnight each weekday and all day Saturdays and Sundays, the channel extended its live programming to 24 hours in January 1987. QVC acquired its top competitor, the Cable Value Network (CVN), in 1989. The $380 million deal contributed to a loss of $17 million during the next fiscal quarter, and then to difficulties in the couple of years that followed.[2]
On February 2, 1995, Comcast purchased a majority shareholding in QVC, Inc., taking control of the corporation. QVC kicked off the "Quest for America's Best: 50 in 50 Tour," a 50-week nationwide product search. QVC.com was founded in 1996.
In July 2003, Comcast sold its majority share to Liberty Media.
In May 2009, QVC became the first multimedia retailer to offer a native high-definition service.
On September 23, 2007, QVC U.S. rebranded itself, changing its logo on-air and online. The rebranding was accompanied by an advertising campaign with the tagline "iQdoU?" ("I shop QVC, do you?") that had preceded the rebrand with billboards in major U.S. cities.The iQdoU? campaign also included a "teaser" website found at iQdoU.com.[3]
On September 30, 2010, at 11pm, QVC began broadcasting in Italy, both on satellite and digital terrestrial television.
Operations
All of QVC's operations (U.S., UK, Germany, Japan and Italy) run 24 hours a day, although live programming hours vary between each region.
Headquarters
QVC has its headquarters in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, near West Chester and by U.S. Route 202.[4][5] The $100 million QVC Studio Park complex, located on an 80-acre (32 ha) plot of land, opened in 1997.[6]
QVC US
QVC's U.S. operations are based in the Studio Park complex, which houses its corporate headquarters, studio and broadcasting facilities. Studio Park is the former corporate offices of Commodore Business Machines. Call center facilities are located in Chesapeake, Virginia; Port St. Lucie, Florida; and San Antonio, Texas. QVC's distribution centers are situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Suffolk, Virginia; Florence, South Carolina; and Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
QVC U.S. also operates a series of retail stores across the country, including one at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Its outlet stores are located in Lancaster, Pa.; Frazer, Pennsylvania; Prices Corner, Del.; Rehoboth Beach, Del.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
QVC broadcasts live in the United States 24/7, apart from the Christmas show which is pre recorded to more than 98 million households, and ranks as the number two television network in terms of revenue (#1 in home shopping networks), with sales in 2009 giving a net revenue of $7.4 billion.
QVC UK
QVC UK was launched in October 1993. QVC UK's headquarters and broadcasting facilities are located at Marco Polo House in Battersea, London, while call center and distribution facilities are situated in Knowsley, Merseyside. QVC UK also runs two outlet stores, one in Warrington, the other in Shrewsbury. QVC has a second channel in the UK: QVC Beauty.
QVC UK broadcasts live 17 hours a day (although the channel runs 24 hours a day), 364 days a year. In 2009, QVC UK shipped more than 13.5 million units and handled more than 14,500 phone calls.[citation needed]
QVC Germany
QVC Germany, incorporated in Düsseldorf, runs call centre operations from two sites in Bochum and Kassel, whilst distribution is handled from a dedicated site in Hückelhoven.
QVC Germany broadcasts live 24 hours a day, 363.5 days a year (off-air Christmas Eve (no program after noon) and Christmas Day), with 33.8 million households reached. QVC has a second channel in Germany: QVC Plus.
QVC Japan
QVC Japan is based in Makuhari, where its corporate headquarters and call center facility are located. Distribution facilities are located in Sakura City.
QVC Japan broadcasts live 24 hours a day (as of June 2004—previously running for 15 hours—making it the first broadcaster in Japan to run a 24-hour live service), to 7.5 million homes.
QVC Italy
In 2010, QVC plans to expand its international presence with the addition of programming in Italy starting on 30 September at 11pm. The primary distribution platform for QVC Italy will be both satellite and digital terrestrial television.
Controversy
In 1998 a class-action suit was brought against QVC. Two former hosts of QVC sued the network, claiming that they were discriminated against by the shopping channel based on their race. The lawsuit went on to state that QVC refused to allow non-white hosts any permanent daytime/primetime spots, which relegated them to the overnight hours, otherwise known as the "graveyard shift." Because of this, the non-white hosts were paid considerably less than the white hosts.
Also in March 2004, the integrity of the company was brought into question when the Federal Trade Commission charged QVC with making "deceptive claims" about weight loss products and the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the company.
Hosts
QVC’s live broadcast is supported by 24 program hosts. They come from a variety of different backgrounds and work three-to four-hour shifts on-air, four to five days a week.
Embedded below is a list of QVC's current hosts in the United States, along with their signature shows:
- Jill Bauer (joined QVC in 1993)
- You're Home with Jill
- Just Desserts with Jill
- Sandra Bennett (joined QVC in 2006)
- Whole You with Sandra
- Jayne Brown (joined QVC in 1999)
- Downtown Style with Jayne Brown
- QVC This Morning Fashion Forum
- QVC This Morning Fashion Friday
- Rick Domeier (joined QVC in 1994)
- techCONNECT with Rick
- Get Fit with Rick
- Home Projects with Rick and Dan
- Sharon Faetsch (joined QVC in 2003)
- Jacque Gonzales (joined QVC in 2003)
- Electronics with Jacque & Friends
- Carolyn Gracie (joined QVC in 2005)
- Garden Party with Carolyn
- Kitchen Unlimited with Carolyn
- Nancy Hornback (joined QVC in late 2009)
- Dan Hughes (joined QVC in 1989)
- QVC This Morning
- For Race Fans Only
- The Great Outdoors with Dan
- Albany Irvin (joined QVC in 2009)
- Dave James (joined QVC in 2004)
- Seriously Late on QVC
- Pat James-DeMentri (joined QVC in 1989)
- QVC This Morning
- QVC This Morning Fashion Forum
- QVC This Morning Fashion Friday
- Gabrielle Kerr (joined QVC in 2007)
- Shawn Killinger (joined QVC in 2007)
- "No Problem!" with Shawn
- Shawn Says, "Accessorize!"
- Antonella Nester (joined QVC in 2004)
- Antonella's Italian Kitchen
- Jonathan Redford (joined QVC in 2009)
- Lisa Robertson (joined QVC in 1995)
- Ask Lisa About Style
- PM Style with Lisa Robertson
- What the Tech? with Lisa
- Mary Beth Roe (joined QVC in 1990)
- My Time with Mary Beth
- Handbags with Mary Beth
- Amy Stran (joined QVC in 2009)
- Jane Treacy (joined QVC in 1986 as one of the original hosts)
- Shoe Shopping with Jane
- Enjoyable Entertaining
- Jane's Rock Stars
- Now That's Cool! with Jane
- David Venable (joined QVC in 1993)
- Dining With David
- In the Kitchen with David
- In the Kitchen with David PM Edition
- Merry Memories with David (seasonal show)
- Dan Wheeler (joined QVC in 1991)
- Home Projects with Rick and Dan
- Leah Williams (joined QVC in 1996)
- AM Style with Leah Williams
Models
(This is only a partial list)
- Brenda Brabham
- Jenna Meglic
- Deanna Fontanez
- Rachel Breitag
- Angela Izzo
- Monica Miraglilo
- Linda Kay Hinkle
- Stacy Ann Lankford Crossin
- Sheila Alasha
- Anne Stanley Glunk
- Aiko Siddall
- Kerin Martucci
- Maria Costa
References
- ^ About QVC, qvc.com
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/prnewswire/press_releases/national/Pennsylvania/2007/09/23/NESU001
- ^ "Directions to QVC Studio Park." QVC. Retrieved on August 11, 2010.
- ^ "West Goshen township, Chester County, Pennsylvania." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 11, 2010.
- ^ "TOURING QVC'S SCENE OF THE SALE \ ENTERTAINMENT AND RETAILING MEET IN WEST GOSHEN TWP." Philadelphia Enquirer. August 17, 1997. D01 Business. Retrieved on August 11, 2010.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/263755-QVC_HD_Now_100_High_Def.php
