HGTVis facing brutal backlash from fans who are concerned that the network is changing too much amid the cancellations of several beloved home renovation shows.They includeChristina on the Coast, The Flipping El Moussas, Battle on the Beach, Farmhouse Fixer,Married To Real Estate, Bargain Block,andIzzy Does It.
In anHGTVReddit thread, fans reacted to an article fromDeadline, which blamed the home renovation show cancellations on rising prices, falling ratings, the rise of DYI streaming and social media shows, competition from other networks, and corporate changes.Fans lamented HGTV’s shift in focus from home and garden TV shows in order to compete with more dramatic series on networks such as Bravo.
One fan wrote,“Maybe I’m the outlier, but I felt the production focused way too much on the people and the fake drama that was laughable.I watch HGTV for the real estate and for the renovations. I do not watch them to learn about Sally’s favorite pattern or Bobby’s three-point shooting. If I wanted to drama I’d watch freaking Bravo.”
Another fan agreed, writing,“You’re not an outlier. HGTV has slowly morphed into some weird reality TV hybrid thing that no one asked for. It’s one of the reasons I started tuning out.“A different person wrote,“Possibly trying to COMPETE with the likes of cable networks such as MTV, BRAVO, E!, VH1 & WETV, no doubt.”
One viewer pointed out that the lack of reality TV drama on HGTV was precisely the reason that it appealed to so many fans. They wrote,“Yep! I think what they failed to realize is a lot of us tuned in BECAUSE there was no drama. It was nice relaxing television to have on while I worked around the house during the day.”
The fan continued,“Then they changed the formula to all flipping shows with some dramatic ‘problem’ in every episode.Then they went full on Real Housewives and that’s when I completely tuned out too. And I’m seeing articles that they lost 50% of their viewers over the last several years, so a lot of us felt the same.”
The fan then wondered why HGTV executives wouldn’t stick with what they knew gave them higher ratings, writing,“Now I see they are looking to ‘appeal to a younger audience who follow TikTok renovations.’ If that’s true I think they are about to put the final nail in the coffin. Why wouldn’t they go back to the formula that gave them higher viewership?”
Another fan wanted HGTV to air more highbrow programming, writing,“We don’t like the hokey, contrived drama and replaying the same scene AGAIN after commercials also. It all feels so cheap and dumbed down. We would really appreciate some intelligent renovation/remodel programming without all the fake drama/influencer style acting.”
Many other viewers feared that HGTV would soon change completely. One fan wrote,“How depressing - HGTV is no longer going to be recognizable as a home reno network …”
What Fan Backlash To HGTV Means After Cancellations
Fans Don’t Want To Watch Reality TV Drama
HGTV fans long for the dayswhen the network was about teaching and learning about homes and gardens.They’re tired of the network trying to compete with other cable channels that churn out dramatic reality TV shows, which they perceive to be fake and useless. They want their favorite shows back.
The backlash to the changes at HGTV could mean that the network’s attempt to adapt to the changing times in reality TV could be exactly what leads to its downfall. It’s strange that the network is changing its formula so much, especially afterMarried to Real Estatewas nominated for an Emmy Award. If the ratings continue to decline due to the backlash,it’s possible that HGTV as fans know it will cease to exist at all.
Our Take On Fan Backlash To HGTV Cancellations
HGTV Fans' Outrage Is Justified
It’s disheartening to see HGTV changing so much in order to keep up with other types of reality TV. It’s hard to watch reality shows when they feel fake and scripted, andfans are noticing the shift from the quieter HGTV teaching programs to the flashy and dramatic series that don’t appeal to them. Their outrage is completely justified.
HGTV should listen to its viewersand give them the shows about home and garden renovations that they love. If the network continues down this path and becomes unrecognizable,then fans will continue to tune out.HGTVhas to find a way to go back to making viewers feel at home.
