HGTV has been struggling financially behind the scenes, which is what reportedly contributed to the network’s decision to pull so many shows off the air.
In a Monday, July 28, report from Deadline, the outlet claimed that HGTV has gone through a significant decline in viewership in the last eight years. Citing Nielsen, the breakdown revealed that HGTV had an average of 1.5 million viewers in 2017, which has since decreased to around just 773,000 for last year’s programs.
The U.S. Television Database, meanwhile, ranked HGTV as the eighth most popular television channel with 582,000 viewers during primetime as of this month. Deadline went on to note that HGTV has faced challenges holding the 18-49 demographic, which was down 26 percent last year. Sources told the outlet that budgets also played a role when it came to the network’s home renovation shows.
In the report, there were financial quotes detailing how it can cost up to $500,000 per episode to film Christina on the Coast and The Flipping El Moussas, talent-led shows that take place over the course of many weeks. More real estate focused shows, however, range from $200,000 to $300,000 with a shorter filming window.
Why Did HGTV Just Cancel 5 TV Shows? Explaining the Cuts — And the Backlash
HGTV made headlines in June when it canceled Battle on the Beach, Farmhouse Fixer, Married to Real Estate, Bargain Block and Izzy Does It. Meanwhile, one month later, the network’s website shared a page that highlighted shows currently seeking participants. There were 11 shows on the page, suggesting those programs would be returning for further seasons, including a new Property Brothers show, a third season of Down Home Fab With Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, another season of My Lottery Dream Home and House Hunters.
While the network has yet to address the program changes — or Deadline‘s reporting — the outlet pointed out that a rise in DIY renovators on social media could have posed a threat as well. As a result, cleaning up HGTV’s schedule is possibly an attempt to make room for new shows that require less budget.
HGTV recently premiered Zillow Gone Wild, which follows host Jack McBrayer touring the most creative and unconventional homes in the U.S. There is also Drew and Jonathan Scott‘s Chasing the West, which airs later this month and shows the network mainstays helping potential homeowners shop for their dream house in the country — without a renovation element.
After Chasing the West’s premiere was delayed by nearly a month, the Property Brothers addressed the change.
What HGTV Stars Said About Surprising — And Controversial — Cancellations
“A lot of people don’t realize when we’re shooting these shows, we have certain shooting deadlines,” Jonathan, 47, explained to TV Insider on Monday. “We want to turn around our edits and our deliverables, but we’re also following real stories of real life. We just surpassed our 600th episode of our shows, 600 families that we’ve been able to help, and at the end of the day, that’s all we really care about.”
Jonathan stood by the schedule change, adding, “There’s just as much uncertainty in when we’re shooting the shows and following the real story as there is on the scheduling side, and we’re trying to figure out the best time.”
Meanwhile, Drew clarified Chasing the West‘s rollout.
“We produce the shows that our fans are asking for to try and inspire them, whether it’s the homeowners we’re actually helping in the show or it’s the viewers,” he shared. “And we’re also airing in over 160 countries. It’s really cool to see how we can inspire people around the globe with what we produce.”
