iBuy

iBuy was a British satellite-based home shopping channel.

Created & launched on 18 April 2005 by Andy Sheldon, iBuy initially launched from the ex-AuctionWorld.tv studio at Teddington Studios, but relocated to Studio 1, at Hogarth Business Park in Chiswick, London.

iBuy operated as a falling price auction channel, similar to that of the 'original' auction shopping channel idea used by bid TV, price-drop TV.

The channel aired between 9:00am and midnight seven days a week on Sky, channel 631.

Towards the end of 2006, the channel also broadcast between 9:00am and midday on Five US to cater for the Freeview market.

Viewers placed bids in 'Freefall' auctions by calling a premium-rate number on screen, or by logging onto the website, www.ibuy.tv. The price of the item fell until all the quantity was sold. The price was dropped in larger units called a “Price plunge”. When stock was limited, “Stock Warning” was displayed on screen to introduce the closing stages of the auction. To further increase tension “Critical Stock” was sometimes displayed on screen when the final few items were left. All buyers paid the lowest price displayed on the screen at the end of the auction, as well as postage costs.

Sister channel ‘iBuy2’ launched later, and broadcast seven days a week on Sky channel 632. It also broadcast live falling price auctions, but from a separate studio which was formally home of the defunct HSN owned quiz channel ‘Quiz TV’. Before the channel ended on 18 February 2007, the sales used a ‘fixed-price’ format.

’iBuy Choice” featured pre-recorded ‘fixed-price’ sales during the live shows off-air hours. This format was replaced by ‘iBuy Unique’ which operated on a ‘lowest unique bid’ auction concept.

iBuy also featured on the BBC Three Welcome To My World documentary "Porno, Preachers and Peadlers" in 2006 alongside other channels: Television X, Girl Fever and Revelation TV.