For the Record

QVC Plans to Cut 700 Jobs

West Chester, Pa. — QVC, whose home-shopping sales have been hit by the dismal economy, last week started layoffs that will ultimately result in the net reduction of 700 jobs, or nearly 6% of its U.S. workforce. Those cuts will result in savings of $30 million to $40 million next year, QVC said.

To kick off its belt-tightening, the electronic retailer, owned by Liberty Media, said Wednesday that it had laid off 160 employees from its U.S. locations, to simplify management and streamline, offering them “an enhanced” severance package.

In the third quarter, QVC domestic revenue fell 9%, to $1.1 billion.

As a result of these changes, about 500 positions in QVC’s West Chester, Pa., distribution center will be eliminated over time, and the company said it intends to create about 200 positions at its Florence, S.C., hub. QVC will be making changes to its customer service over the next year, including closing its West Chester call center next March, resulting in the elimination of about 250 jobs.

Verizon Closer To Philly Franchise

Philadelphia — Verizon Communications might soon provide head-to-head competition on Comcast’s home turf, as the Philadelphia City Council introduced an ordinance Nov. 13 that would enable a franchise agreement for Verizon’s FiOS TV.

The agreement is still subject to a vote by the council over a 15-year franchise.

Under the terms of the proposal, Verizon would deploy FiOS TV to approximately one third of city’ residences within three years after the franchise approval, and reach 70% within five years. The initial service area will include most of the city except eastern neighborhoods; Germantown and greater northeast Philadelphia are also included. Verizon intends to complete its planned system within seven years.

The city is also requiring up to 15 public, educational and access channels, plus financial support for them. Verizon will also pay 5% of gross revenue as a franchise fee.

If the city council approves the pact by year’s end, Verizon said it could be delivering video services within the city during the first year of the franchise.

Sci Fi Renews Series 'Sanctuary’

New York — Sci Fi Channel said it green-lit production on a second season of Sanctuary, starring Amanda Tapping.

The NBC Universal-owned network said it ordered an additional 13 hours of the hour-long Friday-night drama, which drew 3 million viewers to its Oct. 3 premiere, the most for a new show on Sci Fi since Eureka in 2006. Episodes two through five have averaged 2.2 million total viewers each on their initial airings, according to the channel.

Including the series premiere, it’s averaging more than 2.5 million total viewers per episode, with a 1.7 average household rating of 1.7.

Production on season 2 starts early next year in Vancouver, B.C.

Comcast Wins Auction in Alameda

Los Angeles — Comcast has put in the winning bid to buy the financially strapped municipal cable operation run by Alameda Power & Telecom in the San Francisco Bay area.

According to a report this week by the municipal utility, Comcast will pay $15 million for the system, which has 9,500 video customers and 6,600 data customers in the East Bay community.

The municipal utility, which began as an electric company, launched video services in 2001 to leverage its existing infrastructure. However, the cable utility funded its plant and operations with revenue bond anticipation notes. A balloon payment is due next June on those notes of $35 million.

According to the utility, it attempted this year to refinance the notes and was unable to alter the terms. The City Council will consider the sale recommendation Nov. 17.