| 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.
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 its 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.