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Patti Smith
| 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
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
References
- ^ "Flextech Plan Digital Home Shopping - the Media Leader". 24 October 1997.
- ^ "Flextech to launch UK home-shopping service on cable TV".
- ^ "Flex-ing muscles". Forbes.
- ^ "NEW MEDIA: Screenshop gets secure".
- ^ "Flextech Bounces Back". 11 August 1999.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Shop Around the Clock with Screenshop". Digital Spy. 27 August 2000.
- ^ "Telewest Strikes Deal to Combine Screenshop with Bid-Up TV - the Media Leader". 5 March 2001.
- ^ Azeez, Wale (6 March 2001). "Telewest sells home shopping channel". The Guardian.
- ^ "MRCM, sp1 launch as new shopping channels". Digital Spy. 29 August 2002.
- ^ "Sit-up TV in£5m deal".
- ^ "Vector Direct Ltd". Archived from the original on 1 September 2004.
- ^ "TV Warehouse". Archived from the original on 2 November 2005.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/consumer_goods/consumer_20060314_2.shtml