TSC (TV channel)

TSC, formerly The Shopping Channel, is a Canadian discretionary service channel that is owned by Rogers Sports & Media. The channel showcases various products which viewers can purchase either by telephone or internet.

TSC
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
SloganToday's Shopping Choice
HeadquartersMississauga, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerRogers Sports & Media
History
LaunchedJanuary 1, 1987 (1987-01-01)
Former namesCanadian Home Shopping Network (1987–2000)
The Shopping Channel (2000–2017)
Links
WebsiteTSC.ca
Availability
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systemsCheck local listings, channels may vary
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 660 (SD)
Shaw DirectChannel 392 (Classic) / 94 (Advanced) (SD)
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 16 (SD)
Channel 399 (HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 614 (SD)
Channel 1614 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 7 (SD)
Optik TVChannel 130 (SD)
SaskTelChannel 21 (SD)
Channel 321 (HD)
Streaming media
TSC WebsiteLive Stream

The only time that TSC does not broadcast live or tape-delayed product demonstrations is on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sale broadcasts was replaced by Christmas scenes with holiday music in the background until 2008, but have been replaced since with the TSC on-air personalities and celebrity guests sharing their Christmas memories. TSC usually ends live broadcasting for the Christmas holiday at about 4:00pm EST Christmas Eve, with taped sales segments airing from 4:00pm – 10:00pm EST.[1] They go back to regular broadcasting at 10:00pm EST Christmas Day, with taped sales segments, and return to live broadcasting at 7:00am EST Boxing Day.[2]

As with most home shopping channels, the products are mainly aimed at a female audience. Products include those from such categories as fashion, beauty, home and garden, and electronics.

History

Founded by Canadian entrepreneur John Goldberg, the channel went on the air on January 15, 1987[3] as the Canadian Home Shopping Network (CHSN), under the umbrella of the Canadian Home Shopping Club (CHSC), and was affiliated with the U.S. Home Shopping Network (HSN). The channel was exempted from licensing by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), but for several years this was on the condition the channel not use live motion video to demonstrate its products. Animated graphics could be used, but otherwise CHSN was limited to a slide-show format with voice-overs. This restriction was lifted in 1995.

The first on-air host was Sandi Hall. Hosts from the first year included "Bargain" Bill Allison (husband to Betty-Jean Allison, also a former host), Mike Banks, Craig Hamilton (Stash Cairo), Alexandra Elliot (Martha Zidel) and Rosemary Frasier, Hugh Wilson, and Steve Oatway. In January 1988, Rogers Communications acquired the organization from John Goldberg. Rogers then installed Simon Dean as the new president.

The Canadian Home Shopping Network was renamed to The Shopping Channel (TSC) in 2000.

After adopting its current name, the channel commonly used the acronym "TSC", which had a stylized askew-square logo. Its use was cut back significantly after complaints from the hardware store chain Tractor Supply Company, which used a vaguely similar logo.

In July 2011, TSC launched a high definition feed simulcasting the standard definition feed.

In July 2015, it was reported that Rogers was planning to sell The Shopping Channel, and had received bids from foreign broadcasters, such as Liberty Interactive (owner of QVC). Interest had also reportedly been shown by HSN and Evine Live. The network could fetch at least $300 million, although due to CRTC policies, a foreign company would not be able to serve as majority-owner.[4]

In May 2017, the channel introduced a new logo and tagline, "Today's Shopping Choice". Although in the majority of cases, the channel would be referred to as TSC solely, in some media, on the channel's website and social media pages, The Shopping Channel would remain in some references. Since that time, the channel is solely referred to as TSC in all media.

Logos
Logo used during its life as CHSN. Black and white version of the logo used from 2000-2001. Used from 2001-2008. Initially the box above the 'i' was a maple leaf. 2008-2013 2013–2017

Products

TSC has several products, some which gained mainstream notoriety. In addition to the television channel, TSC also has several businesses and products associated with and integrated with the television channel.

  • E-commerce website - the channel operates TheShoppingChannel.com, its online store which sells products that are currently featured on the channel in addition to exclusive products and products that have previously been advertised on the channel.
  • Credit card - a branded TSC Credit Card
  • Outlet store - previously, the channel owned an off-air outlet store located at 100 Orfus Road in Toronto, Ontario; however, it has since been closed.

Counterfeit NES

The Shopping Channel sold a Nintendo Entertainment System hardware clone packaged in one controller known as Plug&Play. It implemented 8 games originally released for the NES and made them available in a menu that listed 15 games, with the 7 additional titles being alternate content derived from the first 8 games. This system was criticized for its lack of original games, incorrectly listing copyright as "©2000 New Game Star", poorly-rendered sprite swaps and the removal of a cartridge slot.[5]

#TSC gameOriginal gameContent included
1World Cup 2000SoccerAll
2City A 2000Battle CityAll
3Winbolton ChampTennisAll
4W.W.FlawTag Team Match: MUSCLEAll
5On The RoadRoad FighterAll
6Boat RaceF-1 RaceAll
7Top Gun MissionSky DestroyerAll
8Autumn HuntDuck HuntGames A and B
9U.F.O. ShootingDuck HuntGame C
10City B 2000Battle CityAlternate content
11Mission ImpossibleSky DestroyerAlternate content
12World Rally ChampRoad FighterBegins at course 2
13Rugged RacerRoad FighterBegins at course 3
14High Way StarRoad FighterBegins at course 4
15Grand Prix ChampF-1 RaceAlternate content

References
  1. http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/pages/programguide?target=DailySchedule&nav=Rpp:1200,N:4294920858,Nf:p_show_datestart%7CBTWN+59947200+59948639.9833333,Fd:0,Fi:0 2013 TSC Christmas Eve Schedule
  2. http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/pages/programguide?target=DailySchedule&nav=Rpp:1200,N:4294920858,Nf:p_show_datestart%7CBTWN+59948640+59950079.9833333,Fd:0,Fi:0 2013 TSC Christmas Day Schedule
  3. Cable TV puts shopping service on the screen The Leader-Post 1987-01-16
  4. "Rogers Communications Inc puts Shopping Channel up for sale, could fetch more than $300M: sources". Financial Post. Reuters. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. "The Worst Plug & Play Console Ever - Rerez". YouTube. December 31, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
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