ITV To launch shoppable TV

ITV is to launch shoppable TV, allowing viewers to discover and shop items from its programmes directly on screen, the first service of its kind in the UK. Viewers can initiate the shopping interface at any time by using their LG remote but must actively opt-in to receive the notifications and use the service.

The service launches during Love Island on ITV2 with Boots UK as the first confirmed launch partner.

The interactive system uses AI technology from The Take, a contextual product discovery company. The Take’s technology is built directly into LG TV sets in the UK and is being used for the first time in this country by ITV. The service identifies and tags featured products during programmes and notifies viewers that products on-screen are available. If a viewer is interested, they can select to view more info with their remote and make a purchase via the vendor’s site or a link sent to their phone.

Using the on-screen shopping interface, viewers can scroll through products, which will refresh when different products and characters are shown during a programme. Additionally, users can also choose to view all products available from the episode of the show that they’re watching. All 2021 LG TVs have the technology integrated as standard and it can be added via software update to 2019 and 2020 models. Boots will be the first partner to trial this new technology, working closely with ITV. In addition, ITV is talking to further partners.

Launching initially in Love Island, ITV plans to roll-out the service on other programmes across different genres throughout the rest of 2021. The Take technology is already live in the USA on 2021, 2020, and 2019 LG TVs.

Bhavit Chandrani, ITV, Director Digital and Creative Partnerships, said: “This is a unique commercial opportunity and the next natural step in what we can offer to brands. Love Island has been a fantastic platform for innovation in how we work with commercial partners over the past few years and is the perfect show to introduce shoppable TV before we roll it out across other programmes.”

Paul Ridsdale, ITV, Acting Chief Marketing Officer, said: “Shoppable TV is a wonderful innovation to allow ITV viewers to be able to shop directly from their TVs, filling a real gap currently in the market. We know ITV viewers enjoy being able to purchase items featured in our programmes and this makes doing that smoother and easier than ever before.”

Ty Cooper, CEO and Co-founder of TheTake said: “We are thrilled to introduce our interactive product discovery platform to the UK market with premier partners in ITV and LG. We look forward to helping ITV viewers discover and engage with the products that inspire them on the programmes that they love.”

Pete Markey, Chief Marketing Officer, Boots UK comments: “We are very excited to be partnering with ITV and TheTake on the new and innovative opportunity. Launching shoppable TV as part of our wider partnership with Love Island is a great way to help customers easily shop the products they spot in the villa and recreate iconic islander looks from the show. It will simplify the customer journey and bring the Boots brand even closer to the Love Island audience.”

“This AI feature makes the LG TV viewing experience more convenient and enjoyable by providing the most relevant information you would like to know while watching ITV's programmes, meaning the TV becomes the main hub of entertainment and information in your living room,” commented Mihee Yoo, Content and Services Manager, Smart TV for LG UK. “We are looking forward to expanding this feature to be available on more ITV programmes on LG TVs in the future.”

QVC-HSN Streaming App Launches on Comcast Xfinity, Service Aims to Be Shoppable on TVs in 2022

In America both QVC and HSN are coming to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex services as an interactive streaming app — with plans to let Comcast customers buy products directly on their TVs starting in early 2022.

Comcast already carries the linear channels of QVC and HSN, owned by John Malone’s Qurate Retail Group.

Now, with the rollout of the QVC and HSN Streaming Service, Comcast’s X1 (traditional cable) and Flex (broadband-only video) customers can access six linear channels (QVC and HSN at launch and QVC2, QVC3, QVC Now, and HSN2 shortly thereafter) in one place. In addition, the service provides access to a catalog of video-on-demand and original programming designed specifically for streaming, such as “Travel, Cook, Repeat with Curtis Stone,” “One on Wine” with QVC foodie and host Mary DeAngelis and “Mally Makes It Better” featuring makeup maven Mally Roncal.

While the new Comcast deal doesn’t actually expand the household reach of QVC or HSN, the streaming app provides a new, more immersive entry point for the cable operator’s subs — and lays the groundwork to let them sign into their QVC or HSN accounts on TV and complete purchases within the same experience, said Mike George, president and CEO of Qurate Retail.

“Our goal is that this becomes our flagship experience, because it’s so much richer than the [linear-only] experience,” George said.

Next year, Qurate plans to enable shopping on the QVC and HSN Streaming Service across all platforms, which in addition to Comcast’s Xfinity devices also include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG’s Shop Time app and Apple TV. “Instead of watching the TV show and having to go to my mobile phone or computer to make a purchase, I can do it using my remote control,” George said. “We think that’s a huge win.”

Today, QVC and HSN reach a cumulative 218 million homes globally across 14 TV networks, plus millions more through streaming, digital, mobile and social platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. “Like everyone, we’ve experienced the pressure of cord-cutting,” George said. “We’ve more than made that up in other ways.”

Comcast’s X1 and Flex customers can access the streaming service by saying “QVC HSN streaming service app” into their Xfinity Voice Remote or find it within the app section of either platform. QVC and HSN’s linear channels will be promoting the app’s launch on Comcast, while the cable operator may feature QVC and HSN videos in its editorial VOD collections.

“The launch of the QVC and HSN Streaming Service on Xfinity X1 and Flex gives our customers another way to enjoy QVC and HSN content beyond the traditional linear channels already available,” said Rebecca Heap, Comcast Cable’s SVP of video and entertainment.

Source: Variety

New product launches from Crafter’s Companion – July launches

Gemini Christmas Floral Spray Dies 2nd July

This stunning collection of Christmas-themed floral designs are perfectly-sized to add something special to 6”x4” craft projects. Each set includes a selection of floral stamps and sentiments, as well as both halves of the outside frame die, making them suitable for a multitude of concepts.

RRP: £14.99

Crafter’s Companion Christmas Brush Lettering Stamps 5th July

Crafter’s Companion has designed eight new stamp sets which can help crafters to easily recreate the stylish brush-lettered style on 6”x4” card bases.

RRP: £7.99

Gemini Christmas 3D Ornaments 5th July

Create show-stopping, festive ornaments with these new 3D Christmas Ornament dies. The collection includes both Ornament and Snow Globe designs, and crafters can mix and match the inner designs to make add a touch of personalization.

Prices start from RRP: £9.99

Nature’s Garden Christmas Gnomes 9th July

Take a look at our brand-new Nature’s Garden Gnome collection! This adorable, on-trend range includes a variety of cute characters and elements which crafters mix and match to create a variety of fun scenes and designs.

The collection includes a variety of stamp, stencil and die sets, acrylic stamps, an embossing folder, 12x12 paper pad, 12x12 cardstock pad and vellum pad.

Prices start from RPP £4.99

Gemini Christmas Centre Piece Create-A-Card 10th July

Our stunning new Centrepiece Create-A-Card dies are a fusion between our popular Create-A-Cards and Edge’ables. They allow crafters to create and cut in an aperture designs or cut into the front of a card base for a detailed window effect.

RRP: £9.99

Gemini Christmas Scenes of Light 17th July

Create scenes like never before with our Scenes of Light dies! These show-stopping dies enable crafters to explore using LED lights in their makes by creating a pop-out scene with layers of dimension and setting the light behind the picturesque setting.

Each set includes two perfectly-sized Create-A-Card dies and one Edge’able to achieve the design, as well as sentiment stamps to add festive messages to each creation.

RRP: £16.99

Gemini Christmas 3D Scene Builders 17th July

This versatile collection of cut and emboss folder has been designed to create fabulously-festive outdoor scenes as seen through a variety of designs including a Christmas window, seasonally-dressed door and winter forest. The perfectly-sized stamp and dies sets have been designed to allow crafters to decorate customize and embellish and are interchangeable with the cut and emboss folders.

Prices start from RRP: £4.99

Gemini Christmas 3D Folders and Stencils 20th July

Crafters will no doubt have an abundance of embossing folders in their stash but many won’t attempt to highlight the embossed areas for fear of ruining their creations.

Our new Gemini Christmas 3D Folders and Stencils offer the perfect solution! Each set includes a 3D embossing folder with a deeper, more pronounced design, along with a matching stencil which can be placed directly over the embossed design. The design can be inked with a pad, coloured using markers, highlighted with gilding wax and more, the possibilities are endless!

While the 3D folder and stencils have been designed to work together, they’re striking enough to be used individually.

RRP: £9.99

Gemini Christmas Intri’lace dies 20th July 6, 2021

Intri’lace is a brand-new addition to our Gemini die portfolio. These fantastic dies are able to cut a never-seen-before level of intricacy with delicate details over a larger area.

In addition to more elaborate cutting, the deeper dies enable crafters to cut thicker materials such as felt, foam, fabric and so on.

RRP: £19.99

Sara Signature in a Nutcracker Collection (box) 28th July

Our Collector’s Edition Sara Signature boxes are a first Crafter’s Companion. Each exciting collectable box comes with a carefully curated selection of crafting goodies to allow crafters to create cards, tags and gifts which can be perfectly coordinated with ease.

The first in our beautiful collection of collectable box sets is the Sara Signature Nutcracker Collection, which has been centred around the ballet and story of the Nutcracker. The set includes well-known characters such as the Nutcracker himself, Marie, the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as the complementing elements needed to set the seen such as the clock, Christmas tree, rocking horse and more.

The Nutcracker Collection includes a variety of acrylic stamps, coloured card, patterned papers, gems, card blanks and envelopes, a stencil, dew drops, dies and more.

This entire collection is presented in a beautiful box which has been decorated in the colours and theme of the collection, enabling each owner to keep everything organised and safe.

RRP: £44.99