HGTV

HGTV
HGTV logo as of 2015
Launched December 1, 1994 (1994-12-01)
Owned by Discovery, Inc.
Picture format
Slogan Home Starts Here
Broadcast area National
Headquarters Knoxville, Tennessee
Formerly called Home & Garden Television (1994–2010)
Sister channel(s)
Website www.hgtv.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV 229
Dish Network
  • 112
  • 9461 (HD)
C-Band – H2H/4DTV AMC 18 – Channel 207 (East)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse
  • 1450 (HD)
  • 450 (SD)
Verizon FiOS
  • 665 (HD)
  • 165 (SD)
Streaming media
PlayStation Vue Internet Protocol television
Sling TV Internet Protocol television
DirecTV Now Internet Protocol television

HGTV (an initialism for Home & Garden Television) is an American basic cable and satellite 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]

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.
HGTV logo used from March 1, 2010 to January 1, 2015.

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, in Canada, Japan, and 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.

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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] The carriage dispute was resolved two days later, on November 7, 2010, through a new carriage agreement.[9][10]

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.[11] 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 pro-life beliefs.[12][13]

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, along with domestically-produced programs—some of which have also been picked up by the U.S. channel. Two series originating from Canada—Love It or List It and Property Brothers—have ranked among HGTV's most popular programs in the United States.[2]

Singapore

On 6 March, 2014, HGTV Launch in Singapore Via Starhub TV, but on August 31, 2018 it (and other Discovery Network channels) ceased transmission. It was launched on Singtel TV Platform on 28th 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.[14][15]
Programming from the network also airs free-to-air on Nine Network's digital network 9Life.

Malaysia

On 31 August 2015, HGTV launched in Malaysia on DBS Pay TV Astro (television).[16]

New Zealand

On 27 June 2016, HGTV launched in New Zealand as a free-to-air channel on the Freeview terrestrial platform. 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 has purchased a majority stake in TVN from Grupa ITI, taking control of company's channels. On 7 January 2017, HGTV has 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.

Taiwan

On 29 May 2016, HGTV launched in Taiwan Via Kbro, Taipei Cable, TWT Cable, and New Taipei City Cable. It plans to also launch on Chunghwa Telecom MOD Channel 281.

Hong Kong

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

Myanmar

HGTV plans to launch in Myanmar on CANAL+ Channel 119.

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

See also

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. 1 2 3 "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". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "HGTV dream homes can become nightmares for winners". Plainview Daily Herald. 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  7. ↑ Finke, Nikki (4 January 2010). "Cablevision vs Scripps Fight Over Food Network/HGTV Could Last Weeks Longer". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scrippy-s Networks", Chicago Tribune. November 5, 2010.
  9. ↑ Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse. Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2010.
  10. ↑ "AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract". Multichannel News. November 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ Barshad, Amos (13 June 2012). "Nothing Gold Can Stay: HGTV Admits House Hunters Is Partially Staged". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Respers France, Lisa. "Benham brothers lose HGTV show after 'anti-gay' remarks". CNN. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Blake, Meredith. "HGTV drops reality show starring anti-gay-marriage Christian activist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  14. ↑ Knox, David (December 9, 2014). "Fetch TV adds BBC First". TV Tonight. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  15. ↑ Perry, Kevin (December 9, 2014). "Big Blow for Foxtel as they Lose Exclusive Rights for Premium Drama Channel BBC First". Nelbie. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Three new Astro channels from Aug 31". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "22nd Annual ARTS Awards Winners". Dallas Market Center.

Further reading

  • Angelo, Megan (April 3, 2018). "As 'Fixer Upper' Ends, HGTV Builds a Roster of Power (Tool) Couples". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  • Kaysen, Ronda (April 6, 2018). "Who Doesn't Love to Hate-Watch HGTV?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
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