BizAims

1977

By accident, home shopping gets its start on a Clearwater, Florida AM radio station when an advertiser cannot pay his bill. The station owner accepts 112 electric can openers in lieu of cash, which he decides to auction over the air. A complete sellout gives birth to "Suncoast Bargaineers," a regularly scheduled radio show.

1981

Concept moves to Tampa Bay-area local access cable as "Home Shopping Channel."

1982

Home Shopping Channel graduates to a regular local Tampa-area cable system and is assigned a permanent channel number.

1985

Rechristened "Home Shopping Club" (HSC), the network launches nationwide, broadcasting 24 hours a day through cable and local television stations.

Company employs 300 people and boasts 75,000 regular customers.

1986

The Home Shopping Network emerges as a public company trading on the American Stock Exchange.

1995

Barry Diller, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation and Fox Inc., purchases The Home Shopping Network and joins HSN as chairman of the board.

1997

Parent company HSN Inc. purchases a controlling interest in Ticketmaster, the world's leading ticketing company.

Company announces agreement to acquire the majority of Universal Studio Inc.'s television assets, including USA Network and Sci-Fi Network.

1998

Upon completion of the Universal deal, HSN Inc. changes its name to USA Networks Inc. USA acquires the rest of Ticketmaster.

Short Shopping, a division that produces direct-selling commercials for various broadcast and cable network partners is launched.

1999

HSN establishes many exciting partnerships including programs with FOX, Nickelodeon and Hearst Publications.

HSN acquires inventor/designer Joy Mangano's Ingenious Designs, Inc., a leading producer of consumer products sold via direct response television and infomercials.

The network's companion Web site, hsn.com, successfully launches and becomes profitable in just three months.

HSN extends its reach Internationally into Germany and Japan.

2000

The network adds one million new customers during first 6 months of the year and counts five million active customers.

In April, HSN becomes the official electronic retailer of the NFL.

In September, Home Shopping Network officially changes its name to HSN with its first-ever branding campaign titled "Only on HSN."

2001

HSN acquires Craftopia.com in January

The network strikes a deal with top designer Randolph Duke to create an exclusive line of fashion apparel for HSN.

HSN acquires the Improvements brand catalog and Web site from Hanover Direct Inc., in June.

In November, Suzanne Somers sets sail with 2,000 women on the HSN Goddess Cruise, setting a record for the world's largest floating pajama party and marking the first time a television shopping network has broadcast live at sea.

hsn.com brings in more revenue in the final quarter of 2001 than it did in all of 2000.

2002

In only 4 hours, internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Esteban generated almost $1 million in sales, breaking HSN's previous same-day music sales record of $678,000 set in 1999.

USA Networks sells its entertainment assets to Vivendi Universal. HSN becomes one of the centerpieces of the newly-formed USA Interactive.

2003

HSN's parent company USA Interactive changes its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp.

Renowned personalities such as Raquel Welch and Patti Labelle bring exclusive new offerings to HSN.

HSN sets new single-day sales record on December 6 with $30 million in sales.

HSN strikes deal with global shipping giant UPS to deliver packages to HSN's millions of customers resulting in faster shipping and improved customer service.

HSN.com launched completely redesigned website featuring new graphics, navigational tools and greater interaction with HSN TV.

2004

HSN welcomes to the network industry leaders such as celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, designer Stephen Burrows and Phyllis George.

HSN's sister network America's Store reinvents itself with new programming, positioning and graphics.

HSN gains market share from main competitor QVC for six consecutive quarters.

Source: hsn.com;