The concept of shopping channels was first popularized in the United States during the 1980s, when
Lowell "Bud" Paxson and
Roy Speer launched a local cable channel called the Home Shopping Club, which later expanded nationally as the
Home Shopping Network (HSN). It soon faced competition from
QVC, which eventually acquired HSN in 2017. Another competitor, the
Shop at Home Network, had its assets sold by
Scripps to
Jewelry Television (JTV) in 2006, which merged its operations with JTV and aired Shop at Home as a
block during
prime time and
late-night hours.
ShopHQ, another U.S.-based shopping network, was at one point partly owned by
NBCUniversal and co-branded as "ShopNBC." However, NBCU sold its stake back to ValueVision, the majority owner, in 2013. Initially reliant on telephone ordering, home shopping channels have increasingly emphasized
online shopping to compete with online-only retailers, while distinguishing themselves with on-air sales pitches and exclusive offers. In 2015, QVC acquired the online retailer
Zulily to strengthen its digital presence. Notable shopping channels outside the U.S. include
TV Shop and
QVC UK in Europe,
The Shopping Channel in New Zealand,
Momo in
Taiwan,
Shop TV in the Philippines, and
TSC in Canada. == References ==