Argos has made its first foray into home shopping with the launch of an online and linear TV channel.

The 24-hour channel, Argos TV, began last night on Sky, with all content streamed live at argos.co.uk/tv.

The retailer is working with production company etv Media to produce the channel, which links through to the Argos ecommerce site.

Products will be divided into categories above the live video stream on the site so a viewer can click to purchase an item presented in the show.

Visitors will also be encouraged to become Facebook fans to get exclusive offers on summer sales. Argos is also considering tying together its social media channels with the TV content, so viewers can ask questions via Twitter, which will be answered by the presenters of the TV show.

The move is the latest step in the retailer’s strategy to establish its brand as a multi-channel retailer.

Argos is the latest retailer to launch an online TV channel, following M&S and Debenhams (nma.co.uk 25 October 2010).