Qurate Retail Group has named Soumya Sriraman president of streaming for the company as it announced that its HSN banner has expanded livestreaming and video storytelling to YouTube TV.
Sriraman was head of Prime video channels at Amazon prior to her move to Qurate, the company noted.
In her newly established role, Sriraman will lead Qurate Retail Group’s streaming commerce business, which includes the QVC+ and HSN+ streaming experience, as well as the QVC and HSN expanding presence on digital livestreaming TV, and other initiatives. In building the streaming function, the company stated, she will engage and expand Qurate Retail Group’s streaming commerce team.
YouTube TV already has more than five million consumers as subscribers and trialers in the United States. It is presenting content via smart TVs, streaming media players, smartphone apps, tablets, computers, game consoles and smart displays. HSN joins YouTube TV’s line-up of more than 100 channels providing everything from local and national news, sports, and entertainment to movies and TV shows on-demand. HSN joins sibling banner QVC as the only two retailers currently livestreaming on YouTube TV, Qurate maintained.
“HSN brings its unique, engaging live video shopping experience to YouTube TV, one of the leading live TV streaming platforms,” said David Apostolico, senior vp, platform strategy, development and distribution, v-Commerce Ventures at Qurate Retail Group. “We’re excited to welcome new customers to HSN via YouTube TV while providing our existing customers with another convenient way to access their favorite HSN programming.”
The Sriraman and HSN streaming announcement follow the appointment of Stacy Bowe as QVC chief merchandising officer.
“These appointments reflect Qurate Retail Group’s ability to attract the most accomplished and ambitious executive talent in retail,” said David Rawlinson, Qurate Retail, Inc. president and CEO, “Our v-commerce teams – QVC, HSN and vCommerce Ventures – are disrupting video shopping, and we believe we have a right to win in this growing industry. In addition, we are accelerating the pace of change within Qurate Retail Group through Project Athens, our turnaround plan, which touches nearly every facet of our business. We’re pleased to welcome Soumya and Stacy to our team.”
Streaming has taken a critical part in Qurate Retail Group’s growth strategies, the company indicated. With its recent launch on the web, the QVC+ and HSN+ streaming experiences are available to 120 million internet-connected homes across the U.S. The streaming services are also available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Apple TV, Android TV, the Google Play Store, Google TV and Comcast X1, Xfinity Flex and X-Class TV,
Since 2022’s beginning, streaming viewership has grown by more than 70% and monthly active users have grown to 600,000, Qurate pointed out, thanks largely to multiple content and programming initiatives including dozens of new programs and themed channels.
