American pay television
Television channel
HGTV
(an
initialism
for
Home & Garden Television
) is an American
pay television
channel owned by
Warner Bros. Discovery
. The network primarily broadcasts
reality
programming
related to
home improvement
and
real estate
.
As of November 2023
[update]
, HGTV is available to approximately 72,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 100,000,000 households.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
Kenneth W. Lowe (then a radio executive with The
E. W. Scripps Company
and, subsequently, the
chief executive officer
of Scripps Networks Interactive) envisioned the concept of HGTV in 1992. With modest financial support from the E.W. Scripps corporate board, he purchased Cinetel, a small video production company in Knoxville, as the base and production hub of the new network. Lowe cofounded the channel with
Susan Packard
.
[2]
[3]
Cinetel became Scripps Productions, but it found producing more than thirty programs simultaneously daunting. The organization brought in former
CBS
television executive Ed Spray, who implemented a system of producing (nearly all) programming through independent production houses around the United States. Burton Jablin, as Vice President of Programming, set the tone and oversaw the production of the early series. About 90 percent of the channel's programming consisted of original productions at launch, with ten percent licensed and rerun from Canadian channels,
PBS
, and other sources.
Using local Scripps cable franchises (since divested), the
Federal Communications Commission
"
must carry
" provisions of Scripps medium-market television stations, and other small television operators to gain cable carriage, the channel launched on December 30, 1994. The major programming themes, unchanged since the beginning, were home building and remodeling, landscaping and gardening, decorating and design, and crafts and hobbies.
During its development, the channel was originally named the
Home, Lawn, and Garden Channel
. The name was later shortened and a logo was developed. The logo was amended in 2010, with this version debuting on March 1 of that year. The square with the "G" in it was removed, the roof was increased in size and the "HGTV" letters are now set in
Gotham Black
(from the original mixture of
Futura
and
Times New Roman
), with the other Gotham fonts being used around the network. The network debuted with a skeletal staff, but with gradual acceptance by other cable operators, it now reaches 94 million households in the United States and has either partner networks, or network interests, internationally elsewhere. It is now referred to simply as "HGTV"; the full name of the channel is de-emphasized.
In July 2008, the E.W. Scripps Company
spun off
the channel and the other Scripps cable channels and web-based properties into a separate company,
Scripps Networks Interactive
; E.W. Scripps broadcast television and newspaper properties remain as part of the original company.
[
citation needed
]
In December 2011, the channel began broadcasting all of its programming in
16:9
aspect ratio
format on its primary
standard definition
channel.
[4]
This results in the appearance of black bars on the top and bottom of the screen on 4:3 aspect ratio televisions; its
high-definition
channel displays the channel's programming in its native aspect ratio.
On March 6, 2018,
Discovery Communications
completed its merger with Scripps Networks Interactive and assumed control of HGTV,
Food Network
and
Travel Channel
.
[5]
[6]
Programming
[
edit
]
HGTV's programming focuses primarily on
reality shows
on home-buying, renovation and
flipping
. SNI CEO Ken Lowe stated of the programming strategy that "We're not going to surprise you. We're not going to throw you a curve ball. It's not easy to create content that people are passionate about and somewhat addicted to that is somewhat repetitive." As of 2016, HGTV has invested at least $400 million annually on original programming.
[7]
In 2021, a
New Yorker
feature said that HGTV's programming "for twenty-six years has offered content that is cheering and conflict-free", describing it as "low-budget and unassuming", "of recuperation, or respite", and "apparently at ease with the idea of tranquilizing America."
[8]
An HGTV executive described how the network tells stories about people having an actual milestone?"celebrating one of the best days of their life."
[8]
An annual promotion held by the network is the
HGTV Dream Home
, a sweepstakes which awards a custom-built house as its grand prize.
[9]
High definition
[
edit
]
The
1080i
high definition
simulcast
feed of HGTV launched on March 31, 2008. Originally, the HD channel did not simulcast the standard definition feed of HGTV. Instead, the HD channel featured programming separate from the standard channel. The standard definition feed of the channel began to carry the full
16:9
aspect ratio
downgraded from the HD feed in a
letterboxed
format in early 2013.
Carrier disputes
[
edit
]
Cablevision
[
edit
]
On December 31, 2009, Scripps Networks Interactive removed the
Food Network
and HGTV from
New York City-area
cable provider
Cablevision
, on the day that its carriage contract was set to expire. After months of negotiations, an agreement between Scripps and Cablevision was not reached, prompting the removal of the two channels.
[10]
On January 21, 2010, Cablevision and Scripps reached a deal and the channels were restored to Cablevision's systems in the New York City area on the same day and by the next day in other areas.
[11]
AT&T U-verse
[
edit
]
On November 5, 2010,
AT&T U-verse
dropped the
DIY Network
,
Cooking Channel
, Food Network,
Great American Country
and HGTV, due to a carriage dispute with Scripps Networks.
[12]
The carriage dispute was resolved two days later, on November 7, 2010, through a new carriage agreement.
[13]
[14]
Controversies and criticism
[
edit
]
On June 13, 2012, representatives for HGTV admitted that scenes featured in the original series
House Hunters
are mostly re-creations of prior events.
[15]
In many cases, the final decision and purchase were made prior to filming. In some cases, homes visited were not even on the market.
In May 2014, HGTV decided not to premiere
the Benham Brothers
' series
Flip It Forward
(which was created for the channel), due to a controversy regarding the Brothers' beliefs concerning
homosexuality
and
abortion
.
[16]
[17]
In July 2023,
The Washington Post
covered a study that found that homeowners who watched HGTV and saw the "before" sequences, in which hosts are critical of the pre-renovation living space, felt "uneasy" about decorating decisions they make inside of their home. The study suggests this has led to a "shift toward standardization," in which homeowners choose neutral, inoffensive design choices.
[18]
International
[
edit
]
Canada
[
edit
]
In 1997,
Atlantis Communications
and Scripps Networks launched
a Canadian version of HGTV
as a
Category B
specialty channel
. Through a series of acquisitions over the years,
Corus Entertainment
became Scripps Networks' partner in the network.
The Canadian version features much of the same programming as the U.S. channel, as well as domestically produced programs, and some similar programming acquired from other broadcasters. Some of HGTV Canada's programs have, in turn, been picked up by the U.S. channel;
Love It or List It
and
Property Brothers
have been among HGTV's most popular programs in the United States.
[7]
The two programs were originally produced for a local sister channel,
W Network
, but were later moved to HGTV Canada and other sister channels after W Network was retooled as a general entertainment channel.
[19]
Singapore
[
edit
]
In December 2014, HGTV Asia was first launched in Singapore via
Starhub TV
, but on August 31, 2018, it (and other Discovery Network channels) ceased transmission and relaunch again on October 1, 2023. It was launched on
Singtel TV
on September 28, 2018, on Channel 250.
Australia
[
edit
]
On February 1, 2015, HGTV launched in Australia on
Australian IPTV
service
Fetch TV
.
[20]
[21]
Programming from the network also airs free-to-air on
Nine Network
's digital multichannel
9Life
.
[22]
[23]
Malaysia
[
edit
]
On August 31, 2015, HGTV launched in Malaysia on
Astro
.
[24]
On August 1, 2023, HGTV Also Launch in Malaysia Via
Unifi TV
.
Netherlands and Belgium
[
edit
]
On January 21, 2021, it was announced that HGTV would launch in the Netherlands through
Ziggo
in the course of 2021,
[25]
but the launch was eventually postponed until indefinetly.
[26]
The channel eventually launched on January 15, 2024, on
KPN
,
Odido
and Ziggo.
[27]
[28]
In Belgium, HGTV will launch on March 27 2024 via Telenet.
[29]
New Zealand
[
edit
]
Television channel
On June 27, 2016, HGTV launched in New Zealand as a free-to-air channel on the
Freeview
terrestrial platform. The channel was started as a joint venture with the
Canadian
broadcaster
Blue Ant Media
.,
[30]
but in late 2019 Discovery, Inc. took over the channel.
[31]
On August 24, 2016, HGTV launched on the Freeview satellite platform and on
Sky
. HGTV programming is available on-demand via
ThreeNow
.
Indonesia
[
edit
]
On July 1, 2016, HGTV launched in Indonesia on
MNC Vision
. HGTV also launched on First Media, Indihome UseeTV, MyRepublic and Matrix Gaurda (same with Nex Parabola).
Italy
[
edit
]
As of February 2, 2020, HGTV Italia is available through DTTV (free to air terrestrial digital television) on channel 56 and on satellite (
Sky
and
Tivusat
). Most of the schedule is filled with U.S. TV shows, with Italian voice over.
Poland
[
edit
]
Scripps Network Interactive
purchased a majority stake in
TVN
from
Grupa ITI
, taking control of company's channels. On January 7, 2017, HGTV replaced fitness and weather channel
TVN Meteo Active
. HGTV is referred to in Poland as
HGTV Home&Garden
. This was the first market in Europe the channel has expanded to.
Philippines
[
edit
]
On March 1, 2015, HGTV launched in the Philippines on
Skycable
,
Destiny Cable
, and
Cignal
.
Romania
[
edit
]
On December 30, 2019, HGTV launched in Romania on
RCS & RDS
.
Taiwan
[
edit
]
On May 29, 2016, HGTV launched in Taiwan Via Kbro, Taipei Cable, TWT Cable, and New Taipei City Cable. From January 1, 2020, HGTV launched in
CHT MOD
.
Hong Kong
[
edit
]
HGTV was launched on Hong Kong's Now TV and Now Player on September 1, 2021, on channel 529 to replace FOX Networks Group Asia Pacific's channels.
Myanmar
[
edit
]
HGTV had its Launch in
Sky Net
Channel 67 on October 19, 2018, and also plans to launch in Myanmar on CANAL+ Channel 119.
Vietnam
[
edit
]
HGTV was launched in Vietnam on November 20, 2018, available on VTVCab and Viettel TV.
[32]
Latin America
[
edit
]
HGTV was launched in Latin America in partnership with
Discovery Inc.
in March 2019.
[33]
United Kingdom and Ireland
[
edit
]
In June 2019, it was announced that former
UKTV
channel
Home
, which Discovery had acquired full control of earlier in the year, would be replaced as a UK version of HGTV on January 21, 2020.
[34]
Germany
[
edit
]
On June 6, 2019, HGTV launched in Germany on
Astra 19.2°E
and
Cable TV
free to air.
Middle East and North Africa
[
edit
]
In Middle East & North Africa region, HGTV is available on beIN Media channel 260 and is one of their leading lifestyle channels.
South Africa
[
edit
]
On July 15, 2019, Discovery launched the re-imagined South African version of HGTV on the DStv satellite platform on Channel 177, as well as on the DStv Now streaming platform.
Bulgaria
[
edit
]
After the closing of
Fine Living
for Bulgaria (January 2020) starts HGTV.
Belgium
[
edit
]
A Dutch language version of the channel is set to launch on
Telenet
in March 2024.
[35]
Hogar de HGTV
[
edit
]
Television channel
Hogar de HGTV
is a spin-off American
Spanish-language
network of HGTV, featuring content from HGTV, Discovery, and
Food Network
dubbed into Spanish, along with some original content delivered natively in Spanish. The network was launched on June 30, 2020, and has limited carriage through the Spanish/Latino tiers of national cable providers, including
Cox
and
Spectrum
at launch. It is distributed exclusively in high-definition.
[36]
Awards
[
edit
]
HGTV was honored with the Academy of Achievement Award for their significant impact on the home and garden decor industry at the 22nd Annual Accessories Resource Team (ARTS) gala event on January 2, 2011.
[37]
In 2012, HGTV won the Dixon Award for Best TV Channel.
[
citation needed
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 ? 2023"
.
wrestlenomics.com
. May 14, 2024
. Retrieved
July 28,
2019
.
- ^
"Susan Packard Drove Home HGTV's Culture While Ratings Sprouted"
. March 24, 2016
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
"Susan Packard of HGTV and Scripps Networks Interactive shares advice at Business Women First event - Bizwomen"
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
"HGTV Goes HD, Makes Teranex Video Processors Its Standard. - Free Online Library"
.
Archived
from the original on October 27, 2016
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Meg James (March 6, 2018).
"Discovery completes $12-billion takeover of Scripps Networks' Food, HGTV and Travel channels"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
September 5,
2019
.
- ^
Dade Hayes (March 6, 2018).
"Discovery Closes $14.6B Acquisition Of Scripps Networks Interactive"
.
Deadline
. Retrieved
September 5,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"HGTV Will Never Upset You: How the Network Beat CNN in 2016"
.
Bloomberg.com
. December 28, 2016
. Retrieved
December 28,
2016
.
- ^
a
b
Parker, Ian (March 22, 2021).
"HGTV is Getting a Renovation"
.
The New Yorker
. Archived from
the original
on March 22, 2021.
- ^
"HGTV dream homes can become nightmares for winners"
.
Plainview Daily Herald
. June 23, 2005
. Retrieved
August 22,
2018
.
- ^
Finke, Nikki (January 4, 2010).
"Cablevision vs Scripps Fight Over Food Network/HGTV Could Last Weeks Longer"
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Stelter, Brian (January 22, 2010).
"Food Network and HGTV Back Aboard Cablevision"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
May 1,
2023
.
- ^
"AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks"
,
Chicago Tribune
. November 5, 2010.
- ^
Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse
.
Chicago Tribune
. November 7, 2010.
- ^
"AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract"
.
Multichannel News
. November 7, 2010.
- ^
Barshad, Amos (June 13, 2012).
"Nothing Gold Can Stay: HGTV Admits House Hunters Is Partially Staged"
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Respers France, Lisa (May 8, 2014).
"Benham brothers lose HGTV show after 'anti-gay' remarks"
. CNN
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Blake, Meredith (May 8, 2014).
"HGTV drops reality show starring anti-gay-marriage Christian activist"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Kurzius, Rachel (July 7, 2023).
"HGTV is making our homes boring and us sad, one study says"
.
The Washington Post
.
- ^
Fall TV 2017: Specialty targeting shifts
Media in Canada, 2018-07-04
- ^
Knox, David (December 9, 2014).
"Fetch TV adds BBC First"
. TV Tonight
. Retrieved
December 19,
2014
.
- ^
Perry, Kevin (December 9, 2014).
"Big Blow for Foxtel as they Lose Exclusive Rights for Premium Drama Channel BBC First"
. Nelbie. Archived from
the original
on December 19, 2014
. Retrieved
December 19,
2014
.
- ^
"SAY HELLO TO AUSTRALIA'S FIRST FREE - TO - AIR LIFESTYLE CHANNEL"
(PDF)
.
Channel Nine Publicity
.
Nine Entertainment Co
. October 28, 2015.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on November 24, 2015
. Retrieved
November 24,
2015
.
- ^
Barrett, Dan (October 28, 2015).
"Nine 2016 Upfront: Plans to broadcast in HD and launch new lifestyle FTA channel"
.
Mediaweek
. Retrieved
October 28,
2015
.
- ^
"Three new Astro channels from Aug 31"
. Retrieved
October 26,
2016
.
- ^
Jarco Kriek (January 21, 2021).
"Ziggo breidt uit met Home & Garden TV en discovery+"
(in Dutch). TotaalTV.nl
. Retrieved
January 22,
2021
.
- ^
Jarco Kriek.
"Komst HGTV HD bij Ziggo uitgesteld"
(in Dutch). TotaalTV.nl
. Retrieved
March 20,
2024
.
- ^
"HGTV to launch in the Netherlands"
.
Broadband TV News
. October 30, 2023
. Retrieved
March 20,
2024
.
- ^
Jarco Kriek.
"Ziggo, KPN en Odido gaan zenderaanbod uitbreiden"
(in Dutch). TotaalTV.nl
. Retrieved
March 20,
2024
.
- ^
"Interieur- en lifestylezender HGTV komt binnenkort naar Belgie"
(in Dutch). HLN.be
. Retrieved
March 21,
2024
.
- ^
"HGTV heading to New Zealand"
.
- ^
"HGTV On Demand New Zealand"
.
HGTV On Demand New Zealand
.
- ^
"Kenh HGTV chinh th?c ra m?t t?i Vi?t Nam"
.
vtvcab.vn
. Retrieved
March 4,
2019
.
- ^
"Discovery lanza en LatAm la senal lifetyle HGTV"
.
Prensario.TV
. Retrieved
March 28,
2019
.
- ^
"Discovery U.K. to Rebrand Home as HGTV, Revive Gok Wan's 'How to Look Good Naked'
"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
. June 26, 2019
. Retrieved
June 30,
2019
.
- ^
"Warner Bros. Discovery lanceert HGTV in Belgie met Ads & Data"
.
www.mm.be
(in Dutch)
. Retrieved
March 20,
2024
.
- ^
Hayes, Dade (June 22, 2020).
"Discovery Debuts Spanish-Language Network Drawn From HGTV, Food Network And Discovery Channel On Charter, Cox Systems"
.
Deadline
. Retrieved
June 22,
2020
.
- ^
"22nd Annual ARTS Awards Winners"
.
Dallas Market Center
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
HGTV
.
HGTV
original programming
|
---|
Current
| |
---|
Former
| 1990s debuts
| |
---|
2000s debuts
| |
---|
2010s debuts
| |
---|
2020s debuts
| |
---|
|
---|
|
---|
Broadcasting and FAST Streaming Group
| |
---|
The Cartoon Network, Inc.
| |
---|
Entertainment Group
| |
---|
Lifestyle & Factual Group
|
|
---|
Defunct and
former ventures
| TimeWarner/WarnerMedia
| |
---|
Discovery, Inc.
| |
---|
|
---|
|
---|
Executives
| Board of directors
| |
---|
Senior management
| |
---|
|
---|
Warner Bros.
Entertainment
| Warner Bros.
Motion Picture Group
| |
---|
Warner Bros.
Television Group
| United States
| |
---|
International
| |
---|
|
---|
Other units
| |
---|
|
---|
U.S. linear networks
| |
---|
Home Box Office
| |
---|
CNN Worldwide
| |
---|
TNT Sports
| |
---|
Global Streaming
& Interactive
Entertainment
| |
---|
Global Brands and
Experiences
|
|
---|
International
Networks
| |
---|
| Canada
JV
| |
---|
Latin America, the Caribbean and Brazil
| |
---|
|
---|
| Pan-Asia
| |
---|
East Asia
| |
---|
South Asia
| |
---|
Southeast Asia
| |
---|
Australasia
|
|
---|
Online
| |
---|
Defunct
| |
---|
|
---|
| France, Belgium & Switzerland
| |
---|
Germany
, Benelux & CEE
| |
---|
Italy
| |
---|
Scandinavia
| |
---|
Iberia
| |
---|
UK & Ireland
| |
---|
Turkey
| |
---|
Middle East & Africa
| |
---|
Defunct
| |
---|
|
---|
| TV channels
| |
---|
FAST channels
| |
---|
Online services
| |
---|
Other assets
| |
---|
|
---|
Former units
| from WB
| |
---|
from
Turner
| |
---|
from HBO
| |
---|
from
Discovery
& Scripps
| |
---|
|
---|
See also
| |
---|