Seriously, of all the live streaming possibilities I might have considered for AOL Video, Liberty Media’s QVC shopping channel or its rival HSN wouldn’t have even made the list. Now the internet really is starting to look like cable. QVC Live is on AOL today and will run 24/7; a second channel, QVC On Demand, with more than 400 clips and daily updates starts next week.
QVC and HSN already have live video feeds on their own sites but this is a first for an external portal. It expands QVC’s reach, something the network needs for revenue growth since it’s already fully distributed across cable and satellite. AOL users will have instant access to celebs like Carly Simon, Cal Ripken Jr. and the like popping up to make sales pitches;  maybe there’s a JV possibility with TMZ.com. You never know in today’s environment.
Update: It’s been pointed out that VDC.com shows QVC and other shopping channels as part of its basic free package although QVC isn’t marked as free on its site and clicking on it opens a subscription window. (ShopNBC is free as are two Celebrity Shopping channels.) AOL’s feed is an open portal that doesn’t require registration or subscription.