In an Ideal World (Ideal World)

Member Name: JB01

Product:	Ideal World
Date:	23/06/06 (2599 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Shopping from the comfort of your own home, free to air

Disadvantages: Status, post & package costs.

After 15 years my analogue TV was on its way out, rather than rush into a digital TV at great expense I decided to try a new analogue TV (with scart sockets) and a Phillips free view digital box. Amongst the selection of stations a British digital TV channels Ideal World a shopping channel. I’m hoping to pay for the box with the proceeds from reviews of stations available. Keep you eyes open. Some of the information below is from Wikipedia (a website) more is available there.

THE FACTS

Launched 17.04.2006 and owned by Ideal Shopping Direct PLC. The company also runs shopping channels Ideal Vitality, create and craft and Jewellery vault. Also extra website for Ideal Flowers. It had an estimated audience of (unknown). Daily showings are available via terrestrial (Freeview channel 22). Satellite (Sky digital channel 634). Cable (NTL channel 855) and is normally part of a basic package. It has a website www.idealworld.tv.

CONTENT

Presenters: Dave Bradford, Howard Griffiths, Carlo Laslo, Andy Love, Loen Love, Martyn Parker, Joanne Puttrich, Dennice Robinson, Shaun Ryan, Debbie Shore, Abbey Surgeon, Nikki Vincent, Ellis Ward.

The WEBSITE

The website has a functional front end with facilities for search by product name or number (normally displayed on the TV). Icon facilities for clicking on Home electronics, Fashion footwear, Beauty and Fitness, Jewellery selection. Tabs at the top for online ordering and the TV schedule for the next 2 days. Further down info on presenters, contact details and other sites (Ideal Vitality), vacancies. In between icons advertising special offers. All very accessible and interactive.

THE TV show

The show runs hourly slots advertising a particular product or range LIVE. The presenters describe the sell actors demonstrate the goods, an hour seems a long time for a demonstration, there are not many cuts which gives the production a more realistic feel. I think it makes it look more dramatic. The presentation leaves something to be desired. During the show viewers phone in to offer advice and comment in response to presenter questions. In between each hour slot full produced & video adverts for products as seen on other commercial channels. To the left of the picture details of the item numbers (products), telephone numbers for contact etc, rather like the website, but not as interactive. After 3 days of viewing I have not noticed much change in presentation style - updates to follow.


MY OPINION

The fact that the channel is free with my digital box (and probably with some digital TV) is a great boon in fact I think one its biggest assets. I have yet to shop with the site but think this type of purchase might be more expensive than the high street. One reason postage & packaging are expensive. Bulk purchases might be more profitable. Most of the products are cheap; over 3 days of viewing I‘ve noticed presentations on hairspray/gel and spray on instant stockings. For now I think the site might survive on the strength of its novelty appeal offering a stress free shopping style that is more interactive than a website. In the future I expect more interaction between the website and the TV will occur with more linkage between demonstration. We might even get viewers offering video footage of there demonstrations. When you get time it might be worth checking out.Updates to follow.

Summary: Live TV presentations of products for mail order, also website.