HGTV (an initialism for Home & Garden Television) is an American basic cable channel owned by Warner Bros.
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.
The major programming themes, unchanged since the beginning, were home building and remodeling, landscaping and gardening, decorating and design, and crafts and hobbies.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[34][35] HGTV was launched in Portugal on MEO in June 2022, using the Dutch feed with Portuguese subtitles during programs.
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).
Scripps Network Interactive purchased a majority stake in TVN from Grupa ITI, taking control of company's channels.
[41] 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.
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.
[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.