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From our local paper -

WEST GOSHEN — Multi-media retailer QVC Inc. has given $100,000 to the American Red Cross to assist in the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief efforts.

QVC is also supporting the Red Cross' work in Japan by promoting its relief efforts on-air and on its website, QVC.com, and through other avenues, the Red Cross announced Monday.

QVC had operated QVC Japan for the last decade until the earthquake knocked it off the air.

"Our hearts go out to the millions of people who were impacted by the major earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan late last week," said Beth Rubino, QVC's senior vice president of human resources and workplace services.

"As a global company, we are committed to supporting the disaster relief efforts of the Red Cross and to utilize our resources on air, online, and via our social media platforms to facilitate fundraising."

In 2001, QVC Japan launched with live broadcasts 15 hours a day. It increased to round-the-clock live broadcasts in 2004. By 2011, QVC reached 7.5 million households in that country.

"QVC Japan is currently not on the air," Rubino said. "Right now our focus is on the continued safety of our employees and for all of the people in Japan who have been impacted by this catastrophe."

QVC Japan's corporate headquarters and call center facilities are based in Chiba City. Distribution facilities are located in Sakura City. Both cities are near Toyko.

"Our facilities have suffered some damage and we are currently evaluating the impact of the earthquake and its aftermath on our operations in Japan," Rubino said.

In addition to Japan, outside the U.S., QVC broadcasts live in Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Of all the foreign operations, Japan has most embraced QVC.

In 2010, QVC Japan exceeded $1 billion in annual revenue, the first market outside of the U.S. to achieve this milestone, according to QVC's parent company Liberty Media Corp. of Englewood, Colo.