HGTV 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 receive HGTV. In 2016, HGTV overtook CNN as the third most-watched cable channel in the United States, behind Fox News and ESPN.
History
Kenneth W. Lowe 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. 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 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, 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. 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, 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 Companyspun 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 aspect ratio format on its primary standard definition channel. 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.
Programming
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. An annual promotion held by the network is the HGTV Dream Home, a sweepstakes which awards a custom-built house as its grand prize.
High definition
The 1080ihigh definitionsimulcast 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 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. 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. The carriage dispute was resolved two days later, on November 7, 2010, through a new carriage agreement.
Controversies
On June 13, 2012, representatives for HGTV admitted that scenes featured in the original seriesHouse Hunters are mostly re-creations of prior events. 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, due to a controversy regarding the Brothers' beliefs concerning homosexuality and anti-abortion beliefs.
International
Canada
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. The Canadian channel's series Property Brothers has ranked among HGTV's most popular programs in the United States; the American channel has also had significant success with the Canadian-produced series Love It or List It.
Singapore
On 6 March 2014, HGTV launched in Singapore via Starhub TV, but on 31 August 2018, it ceased transmission. It was launched on Singtel TV Platform on 28 September 2018 on Channel 250.
On 1 February 2015, HGTV launched in Australia on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV. 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.
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., but in late 2019 Discovery Networks took over the channel. 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
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.
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 It's 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.
HGTV was launched in Latin America in partnership with Discovery Inc. in March 2019.
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.
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 gala event on January 2, 2011. In 2012, HGTV won the Dixon Award for Best TV Channel.
