Basis of Presentation |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2017 | |
| Basis of Presentation [Abstract] | |
| Basis of presentation |
Basis of Presentation
QVC, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries ("QVC" or the "Company") is a retailer of a wide range of consumer products, which are marketed and sold primarily by merchandise-focused televised shopping programs, the Internet and mobile applications.
In the United States ("U.S."), QVC's televised shopping programs, including live and recorded content, are broadcast across multiple channels nationally on a full-time basis, including QVC, QVC2 and Beauty iQ. The Company's U.S. programming is also available on QVC.com, QVC's U.S. website; mobile applications via streaming video; over-the-air broadcasters; and over-the-top content platforms (Roku, Apple TV, Facebook, etc.).
QVC believes that the Company's digital platforms complement the Company's televised shopping programs by allowing consumers to purchase a wide assortment of goods offered on QVC's televised programs, as well as other products that are available only on the Company's digital platforms. The Company views e-commerce as a natural extension of the Company's business, allowing the Company to stream live video and offer on-demand video segments of items recently presented live on QVC's televised programs. The Company's digital platforms allow shoppers to browse, research, compare and perform targeted searches for products, control the order-entry process and conveniently access their QVC account.
QVC's international televised shopping programs, including live and recorded content, are distributed to households outside of the U.S., primarily in Germany, Austria, Japan, the United Kingdom ("U.K."), the Republic of Ireland, Italy and France. In some of the countries where QVC operates, QVC's televised shopping programs are broadcast across multiple QVC channels: QVC Beauty & Style and QVC2 in Germany and QVC Beauty, QVC Extra and QVC Style in the U.K. The programming created for most of these markets is also available via streaming video on QVC's digital platforms. QVC's international business employs product sourcing teams who select products tailored to the interests of each local market.
The Company's Japanese operations ("QVC-Japan") are conducted through a joint venture with Mitsui & Co., LTD ("Mitsui"). QVC-Japan is owned 60% by the Company and 40% by Mitsui. The Company and Mitsui share in all profits and losses based on their respective ownership interests. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, QVC-Japan paid dividends to Mitsui of $40 million, $39 million and $36 million, respectively.
The Company also has a joint venture with CNR Media Group, formerly known as China Broadcasting Corporation, a limited liability company owned by China National Radio (''CNR''). The Company owns a 49% interest in a CNR subsidiary, CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd. (''CNRS''). CNRS operates a retail business in China through a shopping television channel with an associated website. This joint venture is accounted for as an equity method investment recorded as equity in losses of investee in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Interactive Corporation ("Liberty"), which owns interests in a broad range of digital commerce businesses, and is attributed to Liberty's QVC Group. The QVC Group common stock (Nasdaq: QVCA and QVCB) tracks the assets and liabilities of the QVC Group. The QVC Group tracks the Company, zulily, llc ("zulily") and HSN, Inc. ("HSN"), cash and certain liabilities. On April 4, 2017, Liberty entered into an agreement with General Communication, Inc. ("GCI"), an Alaska corporation, and Liberty Interactive LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty, whereby Liberty will acquire GCI through a reorganization in which certain assets and liabilities attributed to Liberty’s Ventures Group will be contributed to GCI in exchange for a controlling interest in GCI. Liberty will then effect a tax-free separation of its controlling interest in the combined company. The transactions are expected to be consummated on March 9, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Simultaneous with that closing, the QVC Group common stock will become the only outstanding common stock of Liberty, and thus QVC Group common stock will cease to function as tracking stock and will effectively become regular common stock. In addition, Liberty will be renamed Qurate Retail Group, Inc., with QVC, HSN and zulily as wholly-owned subsidiaries. On December 29, 2017, Liberty completed the acquisition of the remaining 62% ownership interest of HSN in an all-stock transaction. HSN is attributed to the QVC Group. The QVC Group does not represent a separate legal entity; rather, it represents those businesses, assets and liabilities that are attributed to that group. HSN is not included in the results of operations or financial position of QVC presented in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
On October 1, 2015, Liberty acquired all of the outstanding shares of zulily and QVC declared and paid a dividend to Liberty in the amount of $910 million with funds drawn from the Company’s credit facility to support Liberty’s purchase. zulily is an online retailer offering customers a fun and entertaining shopping experience with a fresh selection of new product styles launched each day for a limited time period. zulily is attributed to the QVC Group and the Company believes that its business is complementary to the Company. zulily is not part of the results of operations or financial position of QVC presented in these consolidated financial statements.
Additionally, on June 23, 2016, QVC amended and restated its senior secured credit facility (the "Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement") increasing the revolving credit facility from $2.25 billion to $2.65 billion as explained further in note 8.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of QVC, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
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