Argos is to close its TV shopping channel less than two years after its debut as it focuses on building its digital business.

The closure is driven by Argos’ aim to move upmarket and invest more heavily in digital, according to the FT.

A spokesperson for Argos told the newspaper: “As Argos works towards delivering its ambition to become a digital retail leader, the business has to focus its resources on priority programmes to deliver the key milestones announced to the City in October 2012. Through this process the future of the Argos TV trial has been assessed and the proposal is to cease operations.”

Argos managing director John Walden, who joined the multichannel retailer last year, set out plans to target the John Lewis customer base last year as he vies to move away from its printed catalogue.

Argos TV was launched in June 2011 with the aim of showcasing more than a thousand products a week. The channel, which was aired on BSkyB and Freesat, was available in more than 10 million homes.

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