• by David Goetzl , August 9, 2010

Liberty Media's QVC and Starz segments each posted modest single-digit revenue growth in the April-May quarter even as the economy rebounded.

Revenue at home-shopping network QVC moved up 4% domestically to $1.2 billion, while the Starz business unit had a 4% bump to $311 million.

QVC has tried to boost its digital revenues to avoid paying commissions to cable, satellite and telco TV distributors; its e-commerce business had a 21% increase in the U.S. QVC.com sales as a percent of domestic sales moved to 32% from 27% in the same period a year ago.

Starz, which has been trying to launch more original programming under the leadership of former HBO chief Chris Albrecht, notched a new affiliation agreement with Comcast for its Starz and Encore networks in the quarter.

Liberty also owns the Atlanta Braves -- which, according to the company, have $186 million in guaranteed contracts on its books, where $67 million is to be paid this year and next.