Shop at Home Network

I've always thought the mind behind the Shop at Home programs was pretty sharp. You know what I'm talking about I'm sure: those 30 minute or hour-long slots where various products are advertised and discussed on TV, and you can call in to order them. They even have a Home Shopping Network, where one can view these programs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The home shopping craze bridged the gap between buying products at a local store and on the internet.

What has always been interesting to me is how they capitalize on sports. Here's an exercise for you to do to understand what I mean. Watch any professional or college championship game. It can be the NBA finals, the title game of March Madness, the Super Bowl, the BCS Championship Game, or the World Series. As soon as the game is over with a declared champion, switch it over to the HSN. Do it immediately after the final second ticks off the clock. Guess what you'll find? They'll already be displaying that team's championship shirt and cap for you to buy.

Last night - or early this morning, around 2:00 - I was flipping through the channels. I came across a spin off of the HSN. It didn't take me but about 10 seconds to quickly change the channel. The first clue was the advisory that you had to be 18 to order anything from this particular program. The second clue was the title of the program: "Erotic Shopping." The third and final clue was the display of the items you could buy. Enough said (or enough seen). Change the channel. Quickly.

I didn't know that this aspect of the world was now available to viewing and purchase from the TV set. I guarantee it will be the last time I flip through those channels late at night.