Bid TV (2005–2011)
On 21 January 2005, the channel was rebranded as Bid TV to reflect the fact that more of its auctions followed the Price-Drop TV format, meaning that bidders were only rarely bidding "up". Bid TV no longer offered rising-price auctions.[2] A new graphic was added in October 2005 to show the start price of falling price auctions.
When the channel originally launched, one of the most popular features was the relaxed style in which the presenters and assistants interacted with each other. For instance, the presenter whose shift was starting would come on air for the last few minutes of the previous presenter's shift. However, although still relaxed, this presenter interaction seems to have been stopped with the launch of Bid TV. Despite the fact that they no longer used an auction hall theme, the presenters exclusively refer to the products they sell as 'lots' and to their customers as 'bidders'. When referring to the next item to be sold the presenters and assistants would say "Closing next..."
In early 2006 the website was overhauled in an attempt to increase its user-friendliness and overall aesthetic appeal. Its new design was inspired by that of eBay, the world's most popular auction website, in an attempt to capitalise on its popularity. On 10 May, the on-screen graphics were changed so that products are now sold in pounds and pence, as opposed to just pounds, a change previously incorporated into Price-Drop TV. In August, a new graphic was introduced, showing Bid TV's website address and a falling arrow. This was shown as soon as the assistant has shown what is coming up next, and introduces the presenter.
In August 2007, they began to sell products with choices. On certain products (often bedding or clothes) the customer was able to choose the size or colour by pressing a telephone button. The graphics for these auctions are different, showing the start price, the current price, the quantity of the 'main' choice and a list of options. When the main choice item is sold out, the price is locked and is what everyone pays regardless of their bid. If another choice is selling faster, then 'limited' appears next to its name and the name vanishes when it sells out.
As a celebration for Bid TV's 7th birthday, in September and October 2007, the channel held a six weekend megadrop promotion where at least one product each hour between 8pm on Friday and 1am on Sunday was sold for £1 plus postage. They have run similar promotions in the past, but this was the first time that Bid TV used the Price-Drop TV name Megadrop.
In January 2008 In order to promote the sister channels of Bid TV, Price-Drop TV and Speed-Auction TV, a small preview of what was on sale on each channel was displayed before each auction began. On 21 June, the channel removed the former graphic displaying the channel name, and replaced this with the web address. In September all three Sit-Up channels removed start-prices from their graphics. However, they still appeared on the websites.
10th birthday
On 5 October 2010, Bid TV celebrated its 10th birthday. As part of the celebrations and further expansion of the Sit-Up Shopping channels, a £5 Million Warehouse Clearance event took place from 16 August 2010 for six weeks, following the announcement that the company is relocating its warehouse in Tamworth to a larger one. The studios of all three channels received new looks from 6 October 2010. On 3 October host Peter Simon stated that the studio was to be demolished in a few hours time, and that live broadcast would be filmed from the Speed Auction TV studio (complete with yellow/black striped construction tape and brown dust-sheets as a backdrop this was to fit in with the theme of Bid TV's studio being under construction) until the new studio was ready to broadcast in on 6 October.
On 6 October, Bid TV continued to celebrate. The broadcast carried on as usual in the temporary studio (that was normally used for Speed Auction TV), switching to the new look studio from 6pm onwards. The on-screen graphics were replaced.
