This article needs additional citations for verification .(March 2010) |
Country | United States |
---|---|
Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Parent | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
Sister channels | List
|
History | |
Launched | December 30, 1994 |
Links | |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Astro Malaysia | CH 715 (HD) |
Streaming media | |
Affiliated Streaming Service | Max |
Service(s) | DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Vidgo, FuboTV |
HGTV (an initialism for Home & Garden Television) is an American basic cable 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]
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 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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
In 1997, Atlantis Communications and Scripps Networks launched a Canadian version of HGTV as a basic cable 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 women's general entertainment channel. [19]
In June 2024, WBD announced that it would end its licensing agreements with Corus and Bell Media for its lifestyle and factual networks beginning in 2025, and transfer Canadian rights to the brands to Rogers Communications. [20] The existing channel will be relaunched by Corus under the in-house brand Home Network effective December 30, 2024, [21] [22] while a new HGTV channel under Rogers ownership will launch January 1, 2025. [23]
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.
On February 1, 2015, HGTV launched in Australia on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV. [24] [25]
On February 14, 2017, the channel was made available in HD for Fetch TV customers. [26]
Programming from the network also airs free-to-air on Nine Network's digital multichannel 9Life. [27] [28]
On August 31, 2015, HGTV launched in Malaysia on Astro. [29]
On August 1, 2023, HGTV also launched in Malaysia Via Unifi TV.
On January 21, 2021, it was announced that HGTV would launch in the Netherlands through Ziggo in the course of 2021, [30] but the launch was eventually postponed indefinitely. [31] The channel eventually launched on January 15, 2024, on KPN, Odido and Ziggo. [32] [33] In Belgium, HGTV launched on March 27, 2024, via Telenet. [34]
HGTV was launched in Portugal on MEO in June 2022, using the Dutch feed with Portuguese subtitles during programs. [35] It was then added to Vodafone, and NOS on 10 October 2024. [36]
Broadcast area | New Zealand |
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Programming | |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV 16:9) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand (Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific) |
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | June 27, 2016 |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Freeview | 19 (SD) |
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., [37] but in late 2019 Discovery, Inc. took over the channel. [38] On August 24, 2016, HGTV launched on the Freeview satellite platform and on Sky. HGTV programming is available on-demand via ThreeNow.
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).
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 Tivùsat). Most of the schedule is filled with U.S. TV shows, with Italian voice over.
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.
On March 1, 2015, HGTV launched in the Philippines on Skycable, Destiny Cable, and Cignal.
On December 30, 2019, HGTV launched in Romania on RCS & RDS.
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.
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.
HGTV had its Launch in Sky Net Channel 67 on October 19, 2018, and also plans to launch in Myanmar on CANAL+ Channel 119.
HGTV was launched in Vietnam on November 20, 2018, available on VTVCab and Viettel TV. [39]
HGTV was launched in Latin America in partnership with Discovery Inc. in March 2019. [40]
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. [41]
On June 6, 2019, HGTV launched in Germany on Astra 19.2°E and Cable TV free to air.
In Middle East & North Africa region, HGTV is available on beIN Media channel 260 and is one of their leading lifestyle channels.
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.
After the closing of Fine Living for Bulgaria (January 2020) starts HGTV.
A French version of HGTV was officially set to launch on Canal+ in November 2020 and the website was created, but the channel was scrapped. [42] [43] [44]
A Dutch language version of the channel is set to launch on Telenet in March 2024. [45]
Programming | |
---|---|
Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
Ownership | |
Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Parent | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | June 30, 2020 |
Links | |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Streaming media | |
Service(s) | FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Vidgo, YouTube TV |
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. [46]
HGTV was honored with the Academy of Achievement Award for their significant impact on the home and garden décor industry at the 22nd Annual Accessories Resource Team (ARTS) gala event on January 2, 2011. [47] In 2012, HGTV won the Dixon Award for Best TV Channel.[ citation needed ]
TLC is an American multinational cable and satellite television network owned by the Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established in 1980 as The Learning Channel, it initially focused on educational and instructional programming. By the late 1990s, after an acquisition by Discovery, Inc. earlier in the decade, the network began to pivot towards reality television programming — predominantly focusing on programming involving lifestyles and personal stories — to the point that the previous name with "The Learning Channel" spelled out was phased out in favor of its initialism.
W Network is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts general entertainment programming oriented towards a female audience.
Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks and Nexstar Media Group. Despite this ownership structure, Warner Bros. Discovery has operating control of the channel, and manages and operates it as a division of the Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks Group. The channel airs both special and regular episodic programs about food and cooking.
Corus Entertainment, Inc. is a Canadian mass media and television production company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario.
DTour is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by TVTropolis G.P., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment.
Great American Family is an American cable television network. Owned by Great American Media, it broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies.
Oprah Winfrey Network, more commonly shortened to OWN, was a Canadian English language discretionary service channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The network's owner, Corus Entertainment, licensed the OWN brand and its American programming from Warner Bros. Discovery.
Food Network, formerly called Food Network Canada, is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel based on the U.S. cable network of the same name. It airs programming related to food, cooking, cuisine, and the food industry. The Canadian version of Food Network is a joint venture between Food Network Canada Inc. a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment and the U.S. network's parent company Television Food Network, G.P..
Cooking Channel is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel majority-owned by Corus Entertainment. Dedicated to programming related to food and cooking, it serves as a spin-off of Food Network.
Rogers Media Inc., operating as Rogers Sports & Media, is a Canadian subsidiary of Rogers Communications that owns the company's mass media and sports properties.
HGTV is a Canadian English-language discretionary cable and satellite specialty channel owned as a joint venture between Corus Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery. HGTV broadcasts programs relating to real estate, home and garden design, and renovations.
Magnolia Network is an American basic cable network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Chip and Joanna Gaines. It broadcasts personality-based lifestyle programs related to topics such as home construction, renovation, and cuisine.
Travel Channel International is a commercial television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and broadcasting travel-themed programmes in the EMEA regions and Asia Pacific, spanning 21 on-air languages.
Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) was an American mass media company, which was formed on July 1, 2008, and acquired by and merged into Discovery Communications on March 6, 2018. It was formed in 2008, through the spin-off of the E. W. Scripps Company's cable television networks and online assets. Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of SNI after receiving approval from the United States Department of Justice and European Commission on March 6, 2018. It was the owner of several major factual television cable channels, including Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, and operated or held stakes in localized international versions of these brands. SNI also owned Polish broadcaster TVN and half of the British channel group UKTV.
MTV Nederland en België is a Dutch speaking free-to-cable television channel broadcasting in the Netherlands. It launched as MTV NL on 12 September 2000. Before the start of country-specific channels, the Pan-European version of MTV aired in the Netherlands.
Magnolia Network is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel that broadcasts lifestyle programming related to home design, renovations, and food. The channel's brand and much of its foreign programming is licensed from its American namesake, Magnolia Network. The channel is a joint venture between HGTV Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Cooking Channel is an American basic cable channel owned by Food Network, a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (69%) and Nexstar Media Group (31%). The channel is a spin-off of Food Network, broadcasting programming related to food and cooking. Cooking Channel is available via traditional Cable Television as well as Discovery+ since January 2021.
Fine Living was a European television channel, initially owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive and later by Discovery Inc., from 2018 onwards. It broadcast from 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2020. It featured documentaries, reality, and how-to shows related to home, cooking, travel, lifestyle and health.
Cablevision Systems Corporation was an American cable television company with systems serving areas surrounding New York City. It was the fifth-largest cable provider and ninth-largest television provider in the United States. Throughout its existence and in its final years, Cablevision exclusively served customers residing in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and a small part of Pennsylvania. However, at one time it provided service in as many as 19 states. Cablevision also offered high-speed Internet connections, digital cable, and VoIP phone service through its Optimum brand name. Cablevision also offered a WiFi-only mobile phone service dubbed Freewheel.
In June 2024, Rogers Communications announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), under which it will hold the rights to the channel brands and programming of WBD's factual and lifestyle television networks. The agreement will trigger a major re-alignment of Canadian specialty television, ending the long-term associations between the brands of WBD predecessors Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks Interactive with Bell Media and Corus Entertainment respectively.