HGTV Then and Now
When I first started watching HGTV, I watched it endlessly. I lived and breathed HGTV. Today, however, I am disappointed with focus it’s programming content has taken. With everything primarily centered on real estate – Sell This House, My House Is Worth What?, My First Place, Property Virgins, House Hunters, among others, the DIY, home decorating, gardening and craft content has literally vanished from its programming agenda. The final straw for me was when they cancelled Decorating Cents. I was so upset that I wrote a letter to Kenneth W. Lowe, President & CEO of The E.W. Scripps Howard Company which launched HGTV in 1993. Much to my surprise, I received a very nice reply along with a HGTV goody bag, but it didn’t make up for my disappointment.
Do you remember Kitty Bartholomew , Sensible Chic, Design Remix and Country Home? Those are the shows I long to see again. They appealed to me because their design ideas were obtainable and offered DIY, reuse and repurpose ideas which showed us how to keep so many items destined for the landfill, which is the ultimate form of green design. Decorating Cents and Design Remix offered an eclectic flair that personalized the homeowner’s spaces to reflect their individual lifestyle and tastes. They supplied you with ideas that you could tweak, upgrade according to your budget if desired and execute effortlessly. More importantly, they left you with that “hey, I can do that” attitude.
On a more positive note, I do like and watch Myles of Style, Color Splash, Dear Genevieve, Deserving Design and Design Star. I like Candice Olson’s Divine Design but for many of us that level of design does not fall within our economical radar. It will be interesting to see what type of shows Jennifer Bertrand, Design Star season three winner, who’s show was delayed due to pregnancy and fourth season winner will have? I sure hope their shows will have that obtainable, within reach, decorating appeal. I need HGTV’s daily dose of inspiration again.
What do you think about the direction HGTV has taken? Do you have any shows that you miss? What are your favorite shows?
I agree! HGTV has lost direction…too many buying/selling home shows. In addition to the decorating shows you mentioned I also enjoy Style Networks “Dress Your Nest”.
Karen,
When you are no longer satisfied, you look elsewhere. That’s how I found “Dress MY Nest”. I too enjoy that show.
I loved Design Remix! Then she had a new show, “Find Your Style” but I haven’t seen it on in a long time! Hope she comes back.
From your mouth to HGTV’s President & CEO, Kenneth W. Lowe’s ears; I loved “Find Your Style as well. Todays post is dedicated to the Design Remix philosophy.
I also am very upset that decorating cents is not on. please put it back on. I don’t watch hgtv now because of that.
I too miss the design and craft oriented shows on HGTV. There is too much emphasis on the real estate programs. Color Splash, Design on a Dime, Dear Genevieve, Find Your Style and Colour Confidential are great. I am not in the market to buy a new home but to make my home new by changing the design, that I am interested in. You can use the ideas from these shows to make your home refreshed.
I miss the decorating shows as well. I do not see the point of watching people buy homes. It does not show all of the nitty gritty that you really have to go through in order to buy a home. I am really tired of reality tv and what it has done to the programs that we used to watch. I work 12 hr shifts at night and I put HGTV on for background noise while I look up decorating ideas on the internet. You certainly won’t find any ideas that are affordable on HGTV anymore. I have recorded many Decorating Cents episodes on my DVR device because they played while I was sleeping. My husband was going to delete them and I almost had a cow. I had to explaing to him that the shows that remained on the device contained some ideas that were used by designers that I thought about trying myself.
Has HGTV even considered putting the shows back on t he air?
I agree with all of you. I have been looking for Decorating Cents for months hoping to see it back in the line up. I just sent HGTV another email asking, begging them to put it back on. Can we send in a petition? Can we all start calling, sending letters? We should not remain silent.
I agree. HGTV does not interest me any more. It’s boring no shows showing the old style of programing. No one can afford a house any more the least they could do is show how to decorate the one you have. Plus the ones looking for homes are wealthy so noone wants to be reminded they can’t afford a million dollar vacation home.
I am so tired of watching these shows about real estate–what happened to the craft shows, sewing programs, quilting, and scrapbooking etc.????? These were the shows I loved to watch and now there is nothing–I don’t understand. Anyone have any kind of explanation? Thanxs