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ShopNBC to Hold Exclusive Worldwide Television Unveiling of 5th Painting in Thomas Kinkade Disney Dreams Collection

Is “Obama-Mania” Offending Some Customers?

Commemorative Throw Blanket Sold on ShopNBC

A columnist for a Canadian newspaper (who happens to admire George W. Bush and live in Tulsa, OKlahoma) cites ShopNBC’s selling of a Commemorative Barack Obama “Believe” Throw Blanket as an example of tiresome and unhealthy hero worship.  He cites other, more forceful examples, such as CBS’s modifying its famous eye logo to look like the logo of the Obama campaign, but his diatribe poses an interesting question for the DRTV networks.  Did they go too far with all the commemorative plates and other products, not to mention the live remote from an inaugural ball.  Oprah Winfrey suffered a self-inflicted wound (well, nick) when she — as she put it — stepped out of her pew to endorse Obama in 2007.  Did the shopping networks alienate a significant number of their loyal GOP customers by so eagerly embracing political events as a selling opportunity? The Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) Feb. 25, 2009

QVC to Pitch Obama SKUs at Inauguration Remote

On the evening of January 20th, QVC host Leah Williams will conduct the sales proceedings from the Creative Coalition’s Inaugural Ball, dressed in an inaugural gown.  Perhaps taking the business selling collectibles and other trinkets too seriously, QVC’s vice president of multichannel programming, Doug Rose, said, “Frankly, if we were not at the inauguration, we would feel like we were not doing our job.”  Presumably, his counterparts at HSN and ShopNBC feel differently.  They’re still looking to cash in on Obama-mania, but they will do it from their home studios.  Associated Press Jan 6, 2000

Orange County Chopper Gang Pulls into QVC

The tough-guy Teutul family of Orange County Choppers (OCC) fame will sell an exclusive new line of OCC merchandise on QVC, beginning tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 9th, at 7 p.m. ET.  Products will include apparel, collectibles, and an autographed book that comes with a bonus CD by the OCC band.   (Its members are mechanics in the OCC garage.)  The broadcast — featuring a performance by the band — will originate from the OCC garage in Newburgh, NY.  (Handlebar cozies for your Harley, anyone?)  QVC Press Release on MarketWatch.com Oct. 6, 2008