QVC, the National Football League and GSI Commerce Inc. have entered into a strategic alliance to create a new, multichannel marketing opportunity for NFL-licensed products. Under terms of the agreement, QVC will become the NFL's “official television retailer” and will host NFL-themed shows as part of its television programming. The QVC programming will “kick off” with the start of the 2007 football season and include the playoffs and Super Bowl. Leveraging the successful e-commerce partnership GSI has established with the NFL for operating NFLShop.com, GSI becomes the exclusive provider of NFL-licensed merchandise to QVC. GSI's distribution network will fulfill product orders received from purchases generated from QVC's telecasts and through QVC's Web store.
Additionally, QVC will launch an NFL Shop on QVC.com this summer featuring a wide assortment of NFL-licensed merchandise. The NFL Shop merchandise will also be supplied and fulfilled by GSI.
“We are pleased to team with two of the leaders in electronic retailing and multichannel commerce,” said Lisa Baird, the NFL's senior vice president of marketing and consumer products. “This new alliance will further expand our marketing reach and better serve our fans who have an insatiable appetite for the NFL and our licensed merchandise.”
“The QVC team has been diligently working at this relationship for some time,” said Mike George, president and CEO of QVC Inc. “Our leadership position in the electronic retailing landscape sets a high standard, demanding that we offer the best in any given category. By working with the NFL and GSI, QVC is well poised to deliver on that promise to our shoppers who are true sports fans.”
“This opportunity was born out of the successful e-commerce partnerships we established with both QVC and the NFL,” said Michael G. Rubin, chairman, president and CEO of GSI Commerce. “We are proud and excited to have this new venture result from our partners leveraging relationships we have within our partner network. We look forward to explore additional opportunities.”
