I used to watch these channels quite a lot back in 2010 or so, and it's quite a shame to see them end, yet I do think that they only ruined it for themselves with the changes they kept making - Specifically the most recent "Shop at Bid" and the Price Drop Winners thing (Though as I haven't watched these channels for a long time, I only got to hear about these changes as the channels were gone before I could view them).
I feel pretty bad for the staff there, especially those who were on air at the time, as I guess it must have been pretty bad to be in the middle of presenting an item and then to be told they no longer have a job. Though, did the presenters know beforehand, as this tweetseems to have been posted nearly 3 hours before they went off, unless thats something to do with timezones.
I wonder if something similar will happen on the TV Channels, as on the websites, which are now finally updated with the following message:
Also, I was watching the Bid and Price Drop streams on Streema a few days ago and noticed that the Speed Auction/Bid Plus stream was still active, simulcasting Bid. I haven't been able to get a connection on either stream since then.
Well spotted mate that is very interesting unless he tweeted from abroad also Ryes replied at 1.04pm an hour before it was taken off.
Also, KPMG managed to finally close the Home Page of Sit Up's Website... And literally the Home Page - All the other pages on the site can be accessed: http://www.sit-up.tv/sitemap.html
Also, KPMG managed to finally close the Home Page of Sit Up's Website... And literally the Home Page - All the other pages on the site can be accessed: http://www.sit-up.tv/sitemap.html
"Sit-up Limited had ceased trading prior to the appointment."
How long before the appointment? Given how unceremoniously they fell off air, it sounds like it was about 5 minutes before...
I've taken a little interest in this business and perused a few of the comments on here with genuine interest from what are clearly the lay persons points of view. I myself am in the national mainstream broadcast media and business and have been for a very long time now. One of my daughters happens to know a gentleman, who shall remain nameless, who has been connected in a front of house position in this business and having had a little chat with her during the weekend this subject surrounding TV shopping and the closure of the Sit Up group businesses cropped up. Despite the comments I have read here I am lead to believe that there were many on the front line who were fully aware of the truth of their situation. My daughter actually quoted one of these gentlemen presenters as saying to her recently, quote "I am one of those violinists who is carrying on playing as the Titanic goes down, keeping up appearances, knowing it's in vain". It would be discourteous to name the quoted individual but I am lead to believe that they continued to work front of house within the business. During our conversation she also stated that the gentleman in question seemed to have a disregard for the actual consumer, and related this was a widespread issue that had been allowed to develop, and that he described and admitted to her a front of house (presentation) staff who were lackadaisical, and knew they were no longer dealing in quality merchandise.
I've summarised quite briefly above to keep it succinct for the benefit of those interested. I am unable to take things any further without compromising the integrity of both my daughter and the individual in the business she was talking about, whom I've taken the liberty to view via our trusty friend You Tube and quite honestly was open jawed.
My daughter said that all the hard working people behind the scenes doing the usual work of a retail business deserve total sympathy for their sudden losses but that based on her own chats with the gentleman I've deliberately not named, she would not have a lot of time for any of the front of house presentation staff involved, some whom he called "jokers" and "not the most honest" apparently.
That is my little bit of light shining on this subject for you, via my daughter who was very chatty on this subject in recent days. I will not be entertaining any further correspondence on the matter, but felt a few moments of my time to place on record another aspect was worthwhile.
Updating TV broadcasts and EPGs when this will be done free in time by the respective organisations may not be cost-effective for them.
I seriously doubt it would take a company with the breadth and experience of Arqiva much time to quickly whip up a caption (even quicker if KPMG sent them some text). Or even just to broadcast a blank screen.
I'd guess that Arqiva as a creditor will be expecting to be paid for the last few days of broadcasting a "breakdown" caption, it would have been more cost effective to at least be broadcasting something relevant during that time.
I seriously doubt it would take a company with the breadth and experience of Arqiva much time to quickly whip up a caption (even quicker if KPMG sent them some text). Or even just to broadcast a blank screen.
I'd guess that Arqiva as a creditor will be expecting to be paid for the last few days of broadcasting a "breakdown" caption, it would have been more cost effective to at least be broadcasting something relevant during that time.
I don't think Arqiva will be expecting any money since the CVA unwound. The £6m injection never happened so I doubt Sit-up would be able to pay them. Hence I'm sure the respective platforms and play-out companies will do something in time but as they won't be paid for it it won't be top of their to-do lists.
I don't think Arqiva will be expecting any money since the CVA unwound. The £6m injection never happened so I doubt Sit-up would be able to pay them. Hence I'm sure the respective platforms and play-out companies will do something in time but as they won't be paid for it it won't be top of their to-do lists.
I'd argue that if they don't expect to get paid, then ceasing whatever services they supplied would be right at the top of their list, rather than letting a breakdown caption linger for days.
Tomorrow being the 7 day window, is expect both channels to be removed from Sky tomorrow. Will probably continue off the EPG until the renewal fees are due.
If anyone is interested, Mark Ryes - one of the presenters will be on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow after 12:00 on You and Yours explaining what happened. Might be worth a listen.
What about the viewers who may have purchased on the Thursday when the channels fell off-air. They don't know what's happening. The websites are still down for "maintenance", the parent site sit-up.tv is still there as if nothing has happened and the TV channels are off-air due to "technical problems" and that they will be back soon and to go to the website where they can shop online!
These customers may be elderly or vunerable people who won't know what to do.
The administrators have to act today and update the websites at bare minimum. Just removing the channels off the EPG's is not on!!!
Payment via credit card would be insured and it is also possible to get a refund via debit card.
The message is there because they are Bid TV and Pricedrop's emergency broadcasts which is shown if the feed from their studios is lost. In terms of being on the air it would be due to contract reasons why it's still there. If they were to stop the broadcast the play out company would be breaking the contract.
If these channels are designed to get money from the elderly and vulnerable, which I suspect they are (or many of them are) then it's another reason to get them off air and keep them off.
I can watch these channels with NO intention of buying and never be convinced, or perhaps hypnotised, into buying because of the presenter(s).
That's just assuming that everyone who buys things from them have dementia. Many of the people who bought at bid and price drop were people who would usually buy from them because their names came up on screen but also "new buyer" would come up on the screen. Elderly people who have dementia would usually have their cards stopped by their family or the credit card company so that they don't lose money.
Many people who were buying the items would probably have been interested in buying those items and others who would buy multiple quantities to sell on ebay. I remember they were once selling large quantity of batteries and they even suggested selling them on ebay or car boot sales. According to a survey they did 98% of customers would buy from them again.
We all watch the programmes about doorstep selling and the many other tricks to get money from certain people. We generally despise it. The authorities try and clamp down on it, and we sometimes manage to put people away for it.
But it's fine to launch a TV channel to do it - which has the easiest access to their homes!
No TV channel is doing that. Doorstep selling scams involves pressuring people to do things usually in a threatening way and usually involves things like doing garden work and overcharging and getting payment in cash. If a presenter on a TV channel they aren't forcing people like someone who was making you way twice as much for garden work. A scam I was made aware of was a window cleaner would clean windows for a few months, then they would ask to borrow money or payment for next time for petrol because they forgot their wallet then they go on the run.
One example is they used to sell clothes which were for the older person but the very young model and presenter would make out that they would love to wear such item despite it being for someone 40 years old than them. I think that was designed to get the silver pound and was sneaky at best ....
It may be sneaky but it's standard practice - the 50plus and Damart catalogues and websites both use younger models and all the 'granny shoe' companies show their shoes on young, smartly dressed women not over-70s in Bon Marche pleated skirts and beige quilted jackets.
There are companies selling women's clothes up to size 36 and beyond but very few of them will ever use a model above a size 16, if as 'large' as that.
It's about selling your customers an image of how they want to look in the product, not the reality. Bid TV were no more guilty of it than any other business in the fashion retail world.
Companies like 50plus and XXL clothing it isn't all down to the company selling the products. They would ask a modelling agency for specific types of people and they will find who they have on their books and the people on their books aren't all elderly people not all of them want to be models as with fat people however with extremely fat people instead of modelling clothing they do "fat porn". In the case with sit up they had models for all clothing and jewellery so it wouldn't be much point having older models just for a few items.
I also saw this from the related videos. She doesn't want to scare anyone but if you don't buy one, your children and everyone else you care about may die! A pound to save your life (plus phone call plus postage).
I don't think she is scaring, she is saying for only £1 you can have something that could save your life even if it is £10.52 including P&P and phone call is a good price.
I seriously doubt it would take a company with the breadth and experience of Arqiva much time to quickly whip up a caption (even quicker if KPMG sent them some text). Or even just to broadcast a blank screen.
I'd guess that Arqiva as a creditor will be expecting to be paid for the last few days of broadcasting a "breakdown" caption, it would have been more cost effective to at least be broadcasting something relevant during that time.
Arqiva would be on a contract so they would be legally bound to keep it on the air. Sit up could still be bought and hasn't been dissolved yet.
I admire your defence of such channels that gain customers because people like to see their name on screen and perhaps feel part of a family by becoming a regular customer (what about the shopping channels that got customers on air to chat?). That's much the same as the quiz channels that sprung up to definitely scam people with unanswerable questions and puzzles (and how long did it take for regulators to sort them out?), or bookies, arcades and bingo halls giving you free tea and coffee so you feel comfortable to keep coming and spending.
I, however, don't see it as a million miles away from someone coming to your door. Good sales techniques take on different forms but are all still trying to get your money at the end of the day.
Also, I am not sure nearly £11 is good value for a fire blanket. A quick look on Amazon shows them for as little as £6 with next day delivery, and cheaper if you prefer a slower delivery.
Of course some products were possibly genuinely good value and maybe even cheaper than elsewhere, but most of the times I flicked through shopping channels I was seeing anything but bargains. Must have just been unlucky I guess!
Payment via credit card would be insured and it is also possible to get a refund via debit card.
The message is there because they are Bid TV and Pricedrop's emergency broadcasts which is shown if the feed from their studios is lost. In terms of being on the air it would be due to contract reasons why it's still there. If they were to stop the broadcast the play out company would be breaking the contract.
I know that. That's what I stated originally. Jeez!
However in 2014 I'm sure it could be technically possible to get the transmission company to update the slide.
As someone who works in customer service I think the administrators have performed poorly.
I used to watch these channels quite a lot back in 2010 or so, and it's quite a shame to see them end, yet I do think that they only ruined it for themselves with the changes they kept making - Specifically the most recent "Shop at Bid" and the Price Drop Winners thing (Though as I haven't watched these channels for a long time, I only got to hear about these changes as the channels were gone before I could view them).
I feel pretty bad for the staff there, especially those who were on air at the time, as I guess it must have been pretty bad to be in the middle of presenting an item and then to be told they no longer have a job. Though, did the presenters know beforehand, as this tweet seems to have been posted nearly 3 hours before they went off, unless thats something to do with timezones.
I wonder if something similar will happen on the TV Channels, as on the websites, which are now finally updated with the following message:
Also, I was watching the Bid and Price Drop streams on Streema a few days ago and noticed that the Speed Auction/Bid Plus stream was still active, simulcasting Bid. I haven't been able to get a connection on either stream since then.
I can confirm that my tweet was sent to Mark Ryes at 19:58 on the 17/4/2014. NOT 11:58am. So I don't know what happened there.
I admire your defence of such channels that gain customers because people like to see their name on screen and perhaps feel part of a family by becoming a regular customer (what about the shopping channels that got customers on air to chat?). That's much the same as the quiz channels that sprung up to definitely scam people with unanswerable questions and puzzles (and how long did it take for regulators to sort them out?), or bookies, arcades and bingo halls giving you free tea and coffee so you feel comfortable to keep coming and spending.
I, however, don't see it as a million miles away from someone coming to your door. Good sales techniques take on different forms but are all still trying to get your money at the end of the day.
Also, I am not sure nearly £11 is good value for a fire blanket. A quick look on Amazon shows them for as little as £6 with next day delivery, and cheaper if you prefer a slower delivery.
Of course some products were possibly genuinely good value and maybe even cheaper than elsewhere, but most of the times I flicked through shopping channels I was seeing anything but bargains. Must have just been unlucky I guess!
One notorious example of that brought to book regarded ITV play, who had a question on Quizmania, "Name items found in a woman's handbag" to which one of the top paying answers was the absurd "Rawl plugs". If that isn't deliberately designed to scam I don't know what is. The regulator simply decided to call it unreasonable.
I've taken a little interest in this business and perused a few of the comments on here with genuine interest from what are clearly the lay persons points of view. I myself am in the national mainstream broadcast media and business and have been for a very long time now. One of my daughters happens to know a gentleman, who shall remain nameless, who has been connected in a front of house position in this business and having had a little chat with her during the weekend this subject surrounding TV shopping and the closure of the Sit Up group businesses cropped up. Despite the comments I have read here I am lead to believe that there were many on the front line who were fully aware of the truth of their situation. My daughter actually quoted one of these gentlemen presenters as saying to her recently, quote "I am one of those violinists who is carrying on playing as the Titanic goes down, keeping up appearances, knowing it's in vain". It would be discourteous to name the quoted individual but I am lead to believe that they continued to work front of house within the business. During our conversation she also stated that the gentleman in question seemed to have a disregard for the actual consumer, and related this was a widespread issue that had been allowed to develop, and that he described and admitted to her a front of house (presentation) staff who were lackadaisical, and knew they were no longer dealing in quality merchandise.
I've summarised quite briefly above to keep it succinct for the benefit of those interested. I am unable to take things any further without compromising the integrity of both my daughter and the individual in the business she was talking about, whom I've taken the liberty to view via our trusty friend You Tube and quite honestly was open jawed.
My daughter said that all the hard working people behind the scenes doing the usual work of a retail business deserve total sympathy for their sudden losses but that based on her own chats with the gentleman I've deliberately not named, she would not have a lot of time for any of the front of house presentation staff involved, some whom he called "jokers" and "not the most honest" apparently.
That is my little bit of light shining on this subject for you, via my daughter who was very chatty on this subject in recent days. I will not be entertaining any further correspondence on the matter, but felt a few moments of my time to place on record another aspect was worthwhile.
Many thanks.
This goes to prove what any sensible observer would agree. That they did know that Bid, and especially Price Drop were on borrowed time. Feigning shock at the sudden demise of the business is an attempt to make them sound more detached from the nonsense that it had become, and these people were the faces of that nonsense and fully indulging it to the last. It comes as no surprise that you describe lax attitudes because it was utterly transparent from a number of them. If they didn't care then why should the customer? Many seemed to have no shame in the end.
Registered in Gibraltar and presumably licenced to use the Bid TV connection.
I wonder if the Peter Simon picture has now been removed? There's a big white space under the "Promotions" box.
Maybe GTECH who run this site will buy the Bid TV brand name to save on royalties, minimal as those probably are.
I admire your defence of such channels that gain customers because people like to see their name on screen and perhaps feel part of a family by becoming a regular customer (what about the shopping channels that got customers on air to chat?). That's much the same as the quiz channels that sprung up to definitely scam people with unanswerable questions and puzzles (and how long did it take for regulators to sort them out?), or bookies, arcades and bingo halls giving you free tea and coffee so you feel comfortable to keep coming and spending.
I disagree that people were buying just to have their name on screen, there are many other channels that do that with their full name and picture. If they wanted their name on screen they would go there and not a shopping channel.
What quiz channels do and did were mentioned in their terms and conditions and mentioned on air. The questions weren't unanswerable they were quizzes no different in some cases to those you would find in magazines but unlike magazines the prizes were better, more frequent and better chances of winning on TV than in magazines.
I, however, don't see it as a million miles away from someone coming to your door. Good sales techniques take on different forms but are all still trying to get your money at the end of the day.
Also, I am not sure nearly £11 is good value for a fire blanket. A quick look on Amazon shows them for as little as £6 with next day delivery, and cheaper if you prefer a slower delivery.
A shopping channel isn't the same as someone pressuring you to buy something. In a face to face sale they can read your body language and adapt their sales technique on a TV you can turn it off. On situp's channels there were people buying the items before the presenter had started his sales pitch. If you were looking for specific items like homewares or electrical items then you would be watching during those times and see things you are interested in.
At Amazon it is only free delivery when you spend £10 or more. A fire blanket in Argos costs £16, £18.99 in Wilkinson and £19.99 from Maplin.
Of course some products were possibly genuinely good value and maybe even cheaper than elsewhere, but most of the times I flicked through shopping channels I was seeing anything but bargains. Must have just been unlucky I guess!
I agree that their products weren't good but that's partly due to manufactures not wanting their products sold cheaply
I wonder if the Peter Simon picture has now been removed? There's a big white space under the "Promotions" box.
Maybe GTECH who run this site will buy the Bid TV brand name to save on royalties, minimal as those probably are.
Comments
Well spotted mate that is very interesting unless he tweeted from abroad also Ryes replied at 1.04pm an hour before it was taken off.
Thanks didn't know that
Also, KPMG managed to finally close the Home Page of Sit Up's Website... And literally the Home Page - All the other pages on the site can be accessed: http://www.sit-up.tv/sitemap.html
"Sit-up Limited had ceased trading prior to the appointment."
How long before the appointment? Given how unceremoniously they fell off air, it sounds like it was about 5 minutes before...
I've taken a little interest in this business and perused a few of the comments on here with genuine interest from what are clearly the lay persons points of view. I myself am in the national mainstream broadcast media and business and have been for a very long time now. One of my daughters happens to know a gentleman, who shall remain nameless, who has been connected in a front of house position in this business and having had a little chat with her during the weekend this subject surrounding TV shopping and the closure of the Sit Up group businesses cropped up. Despite the comments I have read here I am lead to believe that there were many on the front line who were fully aware of the truth of their situation. My daughter actually quoted one of these gentlemen presenters as saying to her recently, quote "I am one of those violinists who is carrying on playing as the Titanic goes down, keeping up appearances, knowing it's in vain". It would be discourteous to name the quoted individual but I am lead to believe that they continued to work front of house within the business. During our conversation she also stated that the gentleman in question seemed to have a disregard for the actual consumer, and related this was a widespread issue that had been allowed to develop, and that he described and admitted to her a front of house (presentation) staff who were lackadaisical, and knew they were no longer dealing in quality merchandise.
I've summarised quite briefly above to keep it succinct for the benefit of those interested. I am unable to take things any further without compromising the integrity of both my daughter and the individual in the business she was talking about, whom I've taken the liberty to view via our trusty friend You Tube and quite honestly was open jawed.
My daughter said that all the hard working people behind the scenes doing the usual work of a retail business deserve total sympathy for their sudden losses but that based on her own chats with the gentleman I've deliberately not named, she would not have a lot of time for any of the front of house presentation staff involved, some whom he called "jokers" and "not the most honest" apparently.
That is my little bit of light shining on this subject for you, via my daughter who was very chatty on this subject in recent days. I will not be entertaining any further correspondence on the matter, but felt a few moments of my time to place on record another aspect was worthwhile.
Many thanks.
I seriously doubt it would take a company with the breadth and experience of Arqiva much time to quickly whip up a caption (even quicker if KPMG sent them some text). Or even just to broadcast a blank screen.
I'd guess that Arqiva as a creditor will be expecting to be paid for the last few days of broadcasting a "breakdown" caption, it would have been more cost effective to at least be broadcasting something relevant during that time.
I don't think Arqiva will be expecting any money since the CVA unwound. The £6m injection never happened so I doubt Sit-up would be able to pay them. Hence I'm sure the respective platforms and play-out companies will do something in time but as they won't be paid for it it won't be top of their to-do lists.
I'd argue that if they don't expect to get paid, then ceasing whatever services they supplied would be right at the top of their list, rather than letting a breakdown caption linger for days.
If anyone is interested, Mark Ryes - one of the presenters will be on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow after 12:00 on You and Yours explaining what happened. Might be worth a listen.
Payment via credit card would be insured and it is also possible to get a refund via debit card.
The message is there because they are Bid TV and Pricedrop's emergency broadcasts which is shown if the feed from their studios is lost. In terms of being on the air it would be due to contract reasons why it's still there. If they were to stop the broadcast the play out company would be breaking the contract.
That's just assuming that everyone who buys things from them have dementia. Many of the people who bought at bid and price drop were people who would usually buy from them because their names came up on screen but also "new buyer" would come up on the screen. Elderly people who have dementia would usually have their cards stopped by their family or the credit card company so that they don't lose money.
Many people who were buying the items would probably have been interested in buying those items and others who would buy multiple quantities to sell on ebay. I remember they were once selling large quantity of batteries and they even suggested selling them on ebay or car boot sales. According to a survey they did 98% of customers would buy from them again.
No TV channel is doing that. Doorstep selling scams involves pressuring people to do things usually in a threatening way and usually involves things like doing garden work and overcharging and getting payment in cash. If a presenter on a TV channel they aren't forcing people like someone who was making you way twice as much for garden work. A scam I was made aware of was a window cleaner would clean windows for a few months, then they would ask to borrow money or payment for next time for petrol because they forgot their wallet then they go on the run.
Companies like 50plus and XXL clothing it isn't all down to the company selling the products. They would ask a modelling agency for specific types of people and they will find who they have on their books and the people on their books aren't all elderly people not all of them want to be models as with fat people however with extremely fat people instead of modelling clothing they do "fat porn". In the case with sit up they had models for all clothing and jewellery so it wouldn't be much point having older models just for a few items.
I don't think she is scaring, she is saying for only £1 you can have something that could save your life even if it is £10.52 including P&P and phone call is a good price.
If you fry a lot of food it is better to put it in a cupboard otherwise they can get covered in oil which will make it more flammable.
Arqiva would be on a contract so they would be legally bound to keep it on the air. Sit up could still be bought and hasn't been dissolved yet.
I, however, don't see it as a million miles away from someone coming to your door. Good sales techniques take on different forms but are all still trying to get your money at the end of the day.
Also, I am not sure nearly £11 is good value for a fire blanket. A quick look on Amazon shows them for as little as £6 with next day delivery, and cheaper if you prefer a slower delivery.
Of course some products were possibly genuinely good value and maybe even cheaper than elsewhere, but most of the times I flicked through shopping channels I was seeing anything but bargains. Must have just been unlucky I guess!
I know that. That's what I stated originally. Jeez!
However in 2014 I'm sure it could be technically possible to get the transmission company to update the slide.
As someone who works in customer service I think the administrators have performed poorly.
I bet PWC would have done a better job of this.
I can confirm that my tweet was sent to Mark Ryes at 19:58 on the 17/4/2014. NOT 11:58am. So I don't know what happened there.
One notorious example of that brought to book regarded ITV play, who had a question on Quizmania, "Name items found in a woman's handbag" to which one of the top paying answers was the absurd "Rawl plugs". If that isn't deliberately designed to scam I don't know what is. The regulator simply decided to call it unreasonable.
http://www.bidbingo.co.uk/bidbingo/bingo/help/
Registered in Gibraltar and presumably licenced to use the Bid TV connection.
I wonder if the Peter Simon picture has now been removed? There's a big white space under the "Promotions" box.
Maybe GTECH who run this site will buy the Bid TV brand name to save on royalties, minimal as those probably are.
I disagree that people were buying just to have their name on screen, there are many other channels that do that with their full name and picture. If they wanted their name on screen they would go there and not a shopping channel.
What quiz channels do and did were mentioned in their terms and conditions and mentioned on air. The questions weren't unanswerable they were quizzes no different in some cases to those you would find in magazines but unlike magazines the prizes were better, more frequent and better chances of winning on TV than in magazines.
A shopping channel isn't the same as someone pressuring you to buy something. In a face to face sale they can read your body language and adapt their sales technique on a TV you can turn it off. On situp's channels there were people buying the items before the presenter had started his sales pitch. If you were looking for specific items like homewares or electrical items then you would be watching during those times and see things you are interested in.
At Amazon it is only free delivery when you spend £10 or more. A fire blanket in Argos costs £16, £18.99 in Wilkinson and £19.99 from Maplin.
I agree that their products weren't good but that's partly due to manufactures not wanting their products sold cheaply
That's even more of a reason to steer clear and get rid of some of the stations.
Yeah deffo looks like it has been removed. Blimey they were quick off the mark!
I wouldn't be surprised if someone on the shoppingtelly.com forum managed to have this taken down!