Last Stand

Why it matters: 2018 could be a make-or-break year for TV shopping titan HSN, which experienced an executive exodus following the announcement of the St. Petersburg-based company's $2.1 billion merger with rival QVC.

In a retail landscape dominated by Amazon, is there a future for HSN — which originated the concept of shopping from the comfort of one's own screen, albeit the screens were TVs, not tablets and smartphones, way back in 1982?

Taking on Jeff Bezos' behemoth while fending off other rivals is a two-front fight the St. Petersburg-based company clearly isn't spoiling for. This past summer, HSN agreed to merge with Liberty Interactive Group, owner of archrival network QVC, in a $2.1 billion, all-stock deal.

The companies saw strength in combining their scale. But the merger announcement was soon followed by news that HSN's top three executives — Bill Brand, Rod Little and Judy Schmeling — planned to exit the company after the deal closed.