The original
US channel was founded in
1986 in
West Chester, Pennsylvania by
Joseph Segel. It grew into a
multinational corporation, specialising in televised
home shopping. It now broadcasts in five countries to 141 million
consumers. The name is an
initialism—standing for
Quality,
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. Originally 20% owned by Sky, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the US broadcaster in 2004. In 2008 QVC UK launched a multiscreen video service accessible via the
interactive television layer, making three video streams available to
Sky viewers via the red button: • QVC Live • QVC+1 (a time delayed service) • Today's Special Value presentation In February 2020, QVC UK had a whole new rebrand with a whole new logo. On April 15, 2026, QVC Group warned that it was preparing to file for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy as soon as the end of that day, citing steadily viewer declines and debt burdens. QVC Group plans to enter a prepackaged restructuring support agreement with its creditors and exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy within no later than 90 days, or by around July 2026. On April 16, QVC Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas with plans to reduce over $5 billion in long-term debt, which will allow for the company to continue operating while having over $1 billion in debt remaining.
QVC Beauty On 26 October 2010 a second channel was launched in the UK,
QVC Beauty, available to viewers of
Freeview,
Sky and
Freesat. 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 HD, QVC Extra and QVC Style QVC had planned to begin broadcasting in
high-definition from September 2012, to be followed by the launch of two new 24-hour channels on
Sky. 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. The following day saw the channels relaunch with availability expanded to Freeview via the connected red button on QVC Beauty. 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 (after
Channel 4 +1 HD). From 2016 to 2018, QVC Extra was temporarily rebranded as QVC Christmas. QVC Extra launched on
Virgin 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. QVC Style ceased broadcasting on Freeview on 21 June 2023, though it continues on other platforms.
QVC Active QVC Active was an
interactive television service made accessible using the red button on QVC UK's
cable,
Sky and
digital terrestrial services. Across each enhanced television platform, QVC provided information including a 24-hour
TV Guide, bestselling products of that day and an ability for the viewer to interact with QVC UK's inventory. Customers viewing the
Sky and cable TV platforms could buy products using their
set-top box. On 13 August 2013, QVC Active closed as a result of more customers using mobile devices for ordering. On other platforms QVC Beauty and QVC Style continue as separate services. 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. ==Operation in the UK==