Screenshop
| Ownership | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bid Shopping |
| History | |
| Launched | October 1997 |
| Closed | 29 April 2012 |
| Links | |
| Website | screenshop.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived August 22, 2006) |
Screenshop was a British strand of infomercial-based shopping programming and television channel, owned by Bid Shopping.
History
[edit]Screenshop was initially launched in October 1997 by Flextech, used as a filler service within the downtime of their owned networks, with intentions to expand to a standalone 24-hour digital network by 1998. It was intended to be the UK equivalent to HSN Direct, where it would show products from across the world from third-party companies.[1][2][3] By 1998-1999, Screenshop launched an online store.[4] In August 1999, Flextech revealed a £14 million loss from the launch of Screenshop and TV Travel Shop.[5]
In early December 1999, Flextech announced that they would merge with cable provider Telewest Communications to create a £10.5bn media giant, with the deal finalising by April 2000.[6][7][8] On 8 September 2000, a full 24-hour Screenshop network was launched on Sky Digital following many delays.[9]
On 6 March 2001, Telewest announced that they would sell Screenshop to Sit-Up TV, the owners of Bid-Up.TV, for £10 million in exchange for a 38% stake in Sit Up that was valued at a £14.8m cash injection. The sale would merge Screenshop into Bid-Up.TV's own operations.[10][11] Following the sale, Screenshop began to broadcast on the station during it's downtime.
On 29 August 2002, a second Screenshop channel, entitled Screenshop 2, was launched on Sky Digital.[12]
In July 2004, Sit Up signed a four-year deal with Vector Direct to allow Vector to exclusively supply Screenshop's programming, as well as during the downtime on Bid Up and Price Drop. The deal was valued at £5 million.[13] After the deal closed, Screenshop lost its identity with all products shown on the channel being those from Victor Direct. Screenshop's website closed at the same time and became a redirect to Victor Direct's online store.[14]
Beginning in November 2005, Screenshop began being supplied by TV Network under their TV Warehouse brand, with Screenshop's website transitioning into a redirect over to them.[15] This was following Vector Direct's appearance on the BBC's Watchdog programme, which was due to the company charging unknowing customers £99.00 for entrance into a "Travel and Leisure" club, in which entry was automatic with every purchase.[16] At some point, both Screenshop channels were removed from the Sky EPG, leaving them solely as filler on Sit-Up's other channels.
On 3 March 2008, Screenshop 2 relaunched on Sky channel 680, using the downtime of Speed Auction. The channel showed various items from 1.30am to 7.30am every night. Screenshop 2 closed on 29 April 2012.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ https://uk.themedialeader.com/flextech-plan-digital-home-shopping/
- ^ https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/flextech-launch-uk-home-shopping-service-cable-tv/27551
- ^ https://www.forbes.com/1999/04/01/feat.html
- ^ https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/new-media-screenshop-gets-secure/63422
- ^ https://www.satellitetoday.com/uncategorized/1999/08/11/flextech-bounces-back/
- ^ McIntosh, Bill (7 December 1999). "Telewest merger with Flextech would challenge Murdoch grip". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "Telewest in talks with Flextech". BBC News. 7 December 1999. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "Telewest nears £2bn Flextech deal". BBC News. 17 December 1999. Archived from the original on 29 December 2002. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a1084/shop-around-the-clock-with-screenshop/
- ^ https://uk.themedialeader.com/telewest-strikes-deal-to-combine-screenshop-with-bid-up-tv/
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/mar/06/broadcasting1
- ^ https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a9004/mrcm-sp1-launch-as-new-shopping-channels/
- ^ https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/sit-up-tv-in5m-deal/1096196.article
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040901033041/http://www.screenshop.co.uk/
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20051102053758/http://www.screenshop.co.uk:80/
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/consumer_goods/consumer_20060314_2.shtml