Yahoo! Inc. , which has been aggressively building out its
e-commerce infrastructure, launched Yahoo! ShoppingVision, an app that lets shoppers view streaming video content and simultaneously
purchase relevant merchandise.
Calling it “a new way to buy products conveniently on the Web,” Yahoo! said
that it
has signed a content distribution and marketing agreement with national home
shopping network ValueVision International Inc., and a content
agreement with TechTV, an on-air and online destination dedicated to “the
digital lifestyle.”
Financial terms of those deals were not disclosed.
“This new service builds upon the dynamic, integrated experience that we have
successfully delivered through Yahoo! FinanceVision, which has seen
exponential growth since its launch last March,” said Henry Sohn, vice
president of central services at
Yahoo! “Yahoo! ShoppingVision … provides retailers new merchandising
opportunities and a novel way to interact with their customers while enabling
commerce.”
The company said the move is an extension of its strategy to integrate rich
media throughout its network.
ShoppingVision users will be able to watch streaming video content such as
product reviews, research and purchase merchandise through a traditional Web
browser, and manage their Yahoo! Wallet, all through one interface, the
company said.
As people see products in the streaming video window, information and links
to merchandise that is being displayed will appear in the window adjoining
the video stream, allowing consumers to purchase the products being viewed
right then and there.
ValueVision will be a featured content provider with a fixed graphic link on
the Yahoo!
ShoppingVision player, and has agreed to provide live programming 7 by 24.
ValueVision also will advertise throughout Yahoo! Shopping, and in the
jewelry and watches, and computers and electronics categories of Yahoo!
Auctions.
“This relationship is in line with our strategy of exploiting e-commerce
opportunities afforded by the convergence of traditional media and the
Internet…” said Gene McCaffery, chairman and CEO of ValueVision.
Through its relationship with TechTV, Yahoo! also will provide shoppers with
access to product reviews.
Yahoo!’s suite of commerce services includes Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo!
Auctions, Yahoo! Store, Yahoo! Classifieds and Yahoo! Travel. During the
first nine months of 2000, the company claims to have directly enabled more
than $3 billion of transactions on its commerce platform.
Shopping While You Watch
