HGTV

HGTV (an initialism for Home & Garden Television) is an American pay television channel that is owned by Discovery, Inc. The network primarily broadcasts reality programming related to home improvement and real estate. As of February 2015, approximately 95,628,000 American households (82.2% of households with television) receive HGTV.[1] In 2016, HGTV overtook CNN as the third most-watched cable channel in the United States, behind Fox News and ESPN.[2]

HGTV
LaunchedDecember 1, 1994 (1994-12-01)
Owned byDiscovery, Inc.
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
SloganHome starts here
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersKnoxville, Tennessee
Formerly calledHome & Garden Television (1994–2010)
Sister channel(s)
Websitewww.hgtv.com
Availability
Satellite
Orby TVChannel 170 (HD)
Dish Network
  • Channel 112 (HD)
  • 9461 (VOD)
DirecTVChannel 229 (HD)
C-Band – H2H/4DTVAMC 18 – Channel 207 (East)
Cable
Available on every US cable providerChannel slots vary on each operator
IPTV
Verizon FiOS
  • Channel 165 (SD)
  • Channel 665 (HD)
AT&T U-verse
  • Channel 450 (SD)
  • Channel 1450 (HD)
CHT MOD
  • Channel 268 (HD)
Streaming media
PhiloInternet Protocol television
YouTube TVInternet Protocol television
Sling TVInternet Protocol television
AT&T TVInternet Protocol television

History

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.[3][4]

Cinetel became Scripps Productions, but it found producing more than 30 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 1, 1994. The major programming themes, unchanged since the beginning, were home building and remodeling, landscaping and gardening, decorating and design, and crafts and hobbies.

HGTV logo used from December 1, 1994 to March 1, 2010.

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.

In December 2011, the channel began broadcasting all of its programming in 16:9 aspect ratio format on its primary standard definition channel.[5] 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.[6][7]

Programming
At the February 23–25, 2018, Capital Remodel and Garden Show at the Dulles Expo Center, (l to r) Chris Lambton and Peyton Lambton

HGTV's current programming focuses primarily on home-buying, renovation, and reality shows following the business of house 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.[2]

An annual promotion held by the network is the HGTV Dream Home, a sweepstakes which awards a custom-built house as its grand prize.[8]

High definition

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

Cablevision

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.[9] 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.

AT&T U-verse

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.[10] The carriage dispute was resolved two days later, on November 7, 2010, through a new carriage agreement.[11][12]

Controversies

On June 13, 2012, representatives for HGTV admitted that scenes featured in the original series House Hunters are mostly re-creations of prior events.[13] 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 anti-abortion beliefs.[14][15]

International

Canada
Main article: HGTV (Canadian TV channel)

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 (some of which have also been picked up by the U.S. channel) and some similar programming acquired from other broadcasters. The Canadian channel's series Property Brothers has ranked among HGTV's most popular programs in the United States;[2] the American channel has also had significant success with the Canadian-produced series Love It or List It (which was originally produced for W Network, a corporate sister to the Canadian HGTV network).

Singapore

On 6 March 2014, HGTV launched in Singapore via Starhub TV, but on 31 August 2018, it (and other Discovery Network channels) ceased transmission. It was launched on Singtel TV Platform on 28 September 2018 on Channel 250.

Sri Lanka

HGTV is available in Sri Lanka via Dialog TV

Australia

On 1 February 2015, HGTV launched in Australia on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV.[16][17]
Programming from the network also airs free-to-air on Nine Network's digital multichannel 9Life.

Malaysia

On 31 August 2015, HGTV launched in Malaysia on DBS Pay TV Astro (television).[18]

New Zealand

On 27 June 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.[19], but in late 2019 Discovery Networks took over the channel.[20] On 24 August 2016, HGTV launched on the Freeview satellite platform and on Sky.

Indonesia

On 1 July 2016, HGTV launched in Indonesia on MNC Vision.

Poland

Scripps Network Interactive purchased a majority stake in TVN from Grupa ITI, taking control of company's channels. On 7 January 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

On 1 March 2015, HGTV launched in the Philippines on Skycable, Destiny Cable, and Cignal.

Romania

On 30 December 2019, HGTV launched in Romania on RCS & RDS.

Taiwan

On 29 May 2016, HGTV launched in Taiwan Via Kbro, Taipei Cable, TWT Cable, and New Taipei City Cable. From January 1, 2020, Its Launches in Chunghwa Telecom MOD Channel 268.

Hong Kong

HGTV plans to launch on Now TV Channel 530 and myTV Super Channel 611, simulcast in SD and HD.

Myanmar

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

HGTV was launched in Vietnam on November 20, 2018, available on VTVCab and Viettel TV.[21]

Latin America

HGTV was launched in Latin America in partnership with Discovery Inc. in March 2019.[22]

United Kingdom and Ireland

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 21 January 2020.[23]

Middle East and North Africa

In Middle East & North Africa region, HGTV is available on beIN Media channel 357 and is one of their leading lifestyle channels.

South Africa

On Monday, 15 July 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.

Awards

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.[24] In 2012, HGTV won the Dixon Award for Best TV Channel.

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See also
  • List of United States cable and satellite television networks
  • Orphan initialism

References
  1. Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. "HGTV Will Never Upset You: How the Network Beat CNN in 2016". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. "Susan Packard Drove Home HGTV's Culture While Ratings Sprouted". 24 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. "Susan Packard of HGTV and Scripps Networks Interactive shares advice at Business Women First event - Bizwomen". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. "HGTV Goes HD, Makes Teranex Video Processors Its Standard. - Free Online Library". Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. Meg James. "Discovery completes $12-billion takeover of Scripps Networks' Food, HGTV and Travel channels". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  7. Dade Hayes. "Discovery Closes $14.6B Acquisition Of Scripps Networks Interactive". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  8. "HGTV dream homes can become nightmares for winners". Plainview Daily Herald. 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  9. Finke, Nikki (4 January 2010). "Cablevision vs Scripps Fight Over Food Network/HGTV Could Last Weeks Longer". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  10. "AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks", Chicago Tribune. November 5, 2010.
  11. Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse. Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2010.
  12. "AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract". Multichannel News. November 7, 2010.
  13. Barshad, Amos (13 June 2012). "Nothing Gold Can Stay: HGTV Admits House Hunters Is Partially Staged". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  14. Respers France, Lisa. "Benham brothers lose HGTV show after 'anti-gay' remarks". CNN. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  15. Blake, Meredith. "HGTV drops reality show starring anti-gay-marriage Christian activist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  16. Knox, David (December 9, 2014). "Fetch TV adds BBC First". TV Tonight. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  17. 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.
  18. "Three new Astro channels from Aug 31". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  19. "HGTV heading to New Zealand".
  20. "HGTV On Demand New Zealand". HGTV On Demand New Zealand.
  21. "Kênh HGTV chính thức ra mắt tại Việt Nam". vtvcab.vn. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  22. "Discovery lanza en LatAm la señal lifetyle HGTV". Prensario.TV. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  23. "Discovery U.K. to Rebrand Home as HGTV, Revive Gok Wan's 'How to Look Good Naked'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  24. "22nd Annual ARTS Awards Winners". Dallas Market Center.

Further reading
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