Why Did HGTV Cancel 7 Fan-Favorite Shows? How High Costs & Low Ratings Play a Role
As HGTV fans continue to mourn the loss of several home renovation shows, a new report offers insight into why seven series were cut.
“Home reno shows are expensive because all of the materials are jacked up and on delay, the price of wood and marble and everything else is going up, so these shows don’t make as much sense anymore,” a source told Deadline in an article published on Monday, July 28. An anonymous producer agreed, adding, “Stuff wouldn’t arrive on time; we had wood floors, for instance, that would come in six weeks after we started production, and then we’re also depending on contractors.”
The producer continued, “Everyone knows if you’re doing construction on your home, you never come in on budget. So, try to apply that to a show that has really strict budgets. Some of our episodes took 16 weeks to shoot; it’s more labor-intensive than doing a real estate show.”
According to the outlet, the home renovation shows can cost around $500,000 per episode compared to the network’s real estate shows, which cost around $200,000 to $300,000 per episode and take less time to film.
HGTV
Another source noted that HGTV viewership has also declined, stating, “The viewers have just left the building and they’re not coming back.” Per Deadline, HGTV has lost nearly half of its total audience over the past eight years, and has reportedly lost 26 percent of its viewership in the 18-49 demographic last year.
“I don’t know if it’s a show thing as much of an audience thing where a lot of people are dropping cable,” another producer told Deadline. “There was a time when people would just put on HGTV when they were cleaning.”
In addition to renovation costs, the salaries of the network’s top stars may have played a role in the slew of cancellations, as some stars reportedly earned up to $100,000 per episode.
“All of these renegotiations are about how much of a reduction their marquee talent is taking going forward,” a third source claimed. “There’s no way that they’re getting the deals that they once got. They are no longer a talent-defining network.”
A separate producer added, “They allowed their talent to run amok. They gave them some form of creative control, and that’s harming their own shows. They were so afraid of talent, they never said no, and the shows aren’t delivering anymore. They kowtowed to talent and now they’re suffering the consequences.”
HGTV
A Deadline source added, much like Jonathan Knight recently suggested, that the network should “convert back to the HGTV of yesteryear, where maybe there’s a gardening show or a kitchen show.”
Knight, whose show Farmhouse Fixer was canceled after three seasons last month, said it would be “cool” to do a gardening show on HGTV. “I love TV shows where it’s not just drama and stupidity, but viewers come away having learned something,” he said.
Farmhouse Fixer was one of many HGTV shows to meet the chopping block in June, along with Bargain Block, Married to Real Estate, and Izzy Does It. More series met the cancellation lineup this month, including Battle on the Beach, Christina on the Coast, and The Flipping El Moussas.
Conversation40 Comments
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I'm going to miss Bargain Block. It was closer to the average home owners. Not everyone can afford to buy a home for hundreds of thousands of dollars and spend even more to remodel. David from Lottery Dreamhome listens to what his buyer wants. It gives viewers an "what would I do if I wonthe Lottery" dream.
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Bargain Block is my favorite too. I'm going to miss them terribly!!
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O
The reno shows are the only ones worth watching. I like house hunters as well. But the ugliest house and the pillow thing stupid!!! How about a new version of design on a dime???
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Yes, back to something like Design on a Dime where the middle class viewer can relate.
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Bring back the old HGTV.
HGTV is losing its viewers with their annoying programming. They cute fan favorites and kept some annoying shows like Zillow & Lottery. The need to go back to the original HGTV type of shows. Not the same type of shows over and over.
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married to real estate is my favorite one!
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Well you know when HGTV started splitting up shows and putting them on other cable networks, we the viewers got lost. You had to hunt round to find where these shows are.
I finally landed on max, Then lots of shows went to Hulu. Another reason that you're losing viewers, You're canceling really good shows like Married to real estate, Christina on the coast, Farmhouse fixers, Rehab addict etc.
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I’m sad. These were some of my favorite shows period. But I don’t buy it. HGTV is doing yet another Property Brothers show while canceling these. I’m getting sick of those two. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
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Not buying the excuse. Property brothers is not being cancelled. Bring back shows like landscaping makeover. Probably about 20 years ago it used to be a show that did repairs. I enjoyed that. They are definitely going to lose me as a viewer by cancelling my favorite shows.
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I agree that they should bring back the old style shows. Decorating Cents and Design on a Dime were helpful shows. Most people can relate to refreshing a room on a little money. I do like shows like Help! I Wrecked My House and No Demo Reno. Bargain Block was my favorite in the beginning. Buying houses ready to be demolished and making them beautiful. The guys did most of the work themselves with little money. Those shows relate to most people. Keep Home Town, too!
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They need to drop the G since they haven't done gardening shows in years. Maybe need to bring those back. Am sick of everything being about home reno that most people can't afford
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I think they need to show more of the renovation instead of just the demo and the design I love to see how they change everything and I watch most of the shows on HGTV
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Know more HGTV for me I love married to real estate and farm house fixer. More property brothers (Really) never cared for any of their shows. Cancel HGTV....
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Yes, yes it was loved their love and how they worked together.
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Yes, how many people literally win the lottery and why do we need shows like that. Taking an old house from the market and turning it into a home that the couples or single person can put their own stamp on. That’s the fun for me seeing how it was to how it will be.
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As much as I love watching HGTV, I truly believe that network has a problem with diversity. The shows always seem to be the same or very similar. They're not diverse at ALL! There should be a great mixture of many races being aired and not faces that look alike. Shows should get equal airtime. Why wasn't Property Brothers or any of the shows that the twins are in cancelled? They're talking about costs. Well, it's got to be a fortune to produce and air the stuff that is on Property Brothers. I'm actually sick of seeing their faces! I was saddened to hear that all those good shows were being cancelled, especially with "Married to Real Estate" and "Bargain Block" being my two favorites. I guess everything happens for a reason because I was going to stop watching HGTV since it isn't practicing diversity. Now, I have a very good reason to change the channel. I wonder if HGTV ever wondered that maybe the viewership dropped because of it being a non-diverse channel rather than assuming it dropped because of the viewers age demographic.
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Yes I agree they gave the Property Brothers a new show. But said it was too expensive to keep the other shows. I enjoyed the shows because I wanted to start rehabbing homes because of those shows.
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When I started watching HDTV years ago, it had different types of shows, like one showing how to work with colors, 1 showing how to decorate a patio, gardening shows... I loved the one where they would go to a house and fix the front landscaping. Unfortunately, HDTV turned to promoting their stars instead of showing variations of decorating and renovation. Every show was so formulatic.
So I would tape the show and just watch the last five minutes to see the before and after, and some of the couples were absolutely boring! The new Zillow show is ridiculous and I've never really liked the lottery winning show. Producers need to bring in new talent. It doesn't always have to be married couples. Really show people and help people on DIY.
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ENOUGH with House Hunters, and that genre, over and over EVERY day. Same with Lottery, I like the show and David, but again, ENOUGH!!!
I, personally, would prefer see repeats of the canceled shows in the evening rather than repeating House Hunters, one after another after another. Again, ENOUGH, BORING!!!!
HGTV "USED" to be my favorite and go to channel. Most of my favorite programs have been canceled. I do love Home Town and Aloha Hawaii, and a couple of others. But HGTV is no longer my go to channel 😢
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The canceled shows were the better renovation ones, i.e. Izzy, Married to RE, Bargain Block. But really there were/are too many of the same thing, just different names. HGTV got away from it diverse shows like Color, curb appeal, back yard makeovers, Kitchen, or Bath only remodel. Inexpensive goods as substitutefor similar Luxury items. Diversity, diversity, diversity!
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They lost the really phenomenal designers like Candice Olen and Sarah Richardson, in favor of flip mediocrity where everything looks like a hotel room. Alison Victoria has similar talent but it comes with too much drama for me to watch. I’m disappointed with some of their choices to cut. So they’ll lose more viewers, but they only care about the younger demographic, which I don’t think is clamoring to watch HGTV.
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G
Why is Zillow and lottery on and the cancel Bargain Block and Married to Real Estate 🤦🏾♀️
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I call BS on the reason they provided as both the Scott Brothers and Alison Victoria have another new reno show.
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I am one of the lost viewers. Shows were much better when they addressed home improvement and renovation. They lost me with the personal lives of the "stars" and the unnecessary story telling.
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So you cancel the shows we like to watch, Married to Real Estate, Bargan Block , etc. you say the cost is to high for the material and they want too much for their salary. Hmmmm. Tired of watching House hunters and House Hunters International, tired of watching the Property Brothers different shows same concept, so now they are heading west. I bet your paying them a hefty salary. Yikes. Cancel them and Windy City, Zillow such a dumb show.Now your left with nothing but white people no diversity.Just saying.
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As a devoted senior citizen of all of these shows, I am very sad and sorry that they cancelled them and replaced them with some of the worst and not as viewer friendly. I will probably not be watching HGTV after 16 years much longer.
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I dont mind the El Mousa programs being cancelled. Don't like Christina. I like Ben and Erin , Fixer to Fabulous Dave and Jenny Mars, David Bromsted ? .lottery Homes, . I wish they would use less expensive building materials. Most homes do not need marble, and other extravagant materials. I know it would ask the price of merits then choose . No one needs a $6000.00 toilet except Allison Victoria. Bargain Block is different and funny.
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Farmhouse Fixer! Best show on TV! Love Jon and Kristina are great. I’m having to watch reruns over and over and still can’t get enough. Why in the world would they cancel such a great show. Big mistake. HGTV is not what it used to be that’s for sure
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Are those reasons true and accurate?? As another writer/responder said, please bring back some of the landscaping shows. I guess I'll have to switch to the food network now.
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Love all of the rehab shows
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If HGTV is losing money as they're claim, shut the channel down. What you have left in production is not that entertaining.
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M
They cancelled some of my favorites and I'm really bummed out! If you want loyal viewers you need to keep the shows we like🤷
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The Scott brothers are bring in the bucks for HGTV. They are involved in many reno shows and have their own network. I like the HOME network but not sure if it is available in the U.S.
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I, like many who've commented, enjoyed those shows that were canceled. I look at these cancelations differently. I'm seeing a gay couple, people of color having their shows canceled while the "white boys" keep increasing their shows.
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I will also miss Bargain Block, Izzy does it.
The shows your keeping, won’t keep my attention. They have been on for years and of course they are requesting large salaries. They are homes that I can’t imagine living in. Back to House Hunters.
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It all ties together have to see the demo in order to see the renovation to completion.
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I wont be watching HGTV anymore and i will telling g all my family and friends not to one of the best and highest show that show a very respectable and precious family of color was canceled and it makes no sense and wad up for awards tell Us Why !!!!@@?????
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O
I think HGTV made a mistake keeping Zillow Goes Wild and Ugliest House in America. Replace with gardening or kitchen shows. Farmhouse Fixer was a darn good show and I will stream it
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C
Every darn show was about flipping. And the ego of some of the hosts was getting in the way. Yes bring back a garden, a craft or cooking show
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G
Renovation shows are all the same. Nothing new to see.
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