America's Store
Encyclopedia
America's Store was a US
shopping television network
. It was the spin-off channel to the Home Shopping Network
(HSN). On April 3, 2007, America's Store ceased broadcasting permanently.
America's Store (AS) began in 1988 as the Home Shopping Club Overnight Service, which aired on broadcast stations around the USA from midnight to 9am and, in particular, on WWOR-TV
from 3am to 6am in the New York City
metro area. In 1989, HSN purchased a number of low-power TV
stations and began operating the service 24 hours a day as Home Shopping SPREE. In 1997, the name was changed again to America's Jewelry Store to reflect a switch to selling exclusively jewelry. This incarnation met with limited success, so in 1998, the selection was expanded to include all of HSN's inventory categories, and the word jewelry was removed from the network's name. In 2003, AS was added to the DirecTV
lineup.
The low-power TV stations owned by HSN with partners and affiliated companies were located in every major metropolitan market - including a transmitter atop the World Trade Center
until September 11, 2001.
Much of the merchandise presented by AS was "distressed" inventory from HSN, so the prices were usually dropped until liquidated or removed from air.
Interestingly, competitor QVC
had a spin-off channel called "Q2", which only lasted during the mid-1990s. Following Barry Diller's exit from QVC and purchase of HSN many former Q2 employees followed him to HSN and America's Store.
s that appeared on America's Store at the time of its closure included (in alphabetical order; names in bold denote hosts also appearing on HSN):
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shopping television network
Shopping channel
Shopping channels are television specialty channels that present shopping related content, particularly for home shopping enthusiasts.-USA:* America's Store* Home Shopping Network* Jewelry Television* QVC* Shop at Home Network* ShopNBC...
. It was the spin-off channel to the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
(HSN). On April 3, 2007, America's Store ceased broadcasting permanently.
America's Store (AS) began in 1988 as the Home Shopping Club Overnight Service, which aired on broadcast stations around the USA from midnight to 9am and, in particular, on WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
from 3am to 6am in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
metro area. In 1989, HSN purchased a number of low-power TV
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
stations and began operating the service 24 hours a day as Home Shopping SPREE. In 1997, the name was changed again to America's Jewelry Store to reflect a switch to selling exclusively jewelry. This incarnation met with limited success, so in 1998, the selection was expanded to include all of HSN's inventory categories, and the word jewelry was removed from the network's name. In 2003, AS was added to the DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
lineup.
The low-power TV stations owned by HSN with partners and affiliated companies were located in every major metropolitan market - including a transmitter atop the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
until September 11, 2001.
Much of the merchandise presented by AS was "distressed" inventory from HSN, so the prices were usually dropped until liquidated or removed from air.
Interestingly, competitor QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
had a spin-off channel called "Q2", which only lasted during the mid-1990s. Following Barry Diller's exit from QVC and purchase of HSN many former Q2 employees followed him to HSN and America's Store.
Hosts
Home shopping hostHome shopping host
A home shopping host is the on-air host that partners with guests on television shopping channels, such as HSN, QVC, and ShopNBC. The job of a home shopping host is to introduce new presenters and guests to the television audience, and help these guests explain the values and features of the...
s that appeared on America's Store at the time of its closure included (in alphabetical order; names in bold denote hosts also appearing on HSN):
- Liz Benbrook
- Tina Berry
- Alyce Caron
- Bill Green
- Rich Hollenberg
- Brian Hyder
- Lori Leland
- Diana Perkovic
- Michelle Ragland
- Alan Skantz
- Perry Slater
- Marlo Tejera