14 Things You Didn't Know About HGTV
There's so much to love about our favorite TV channel.
If you told us we could only watch one channel for the rest of our lives, it would be HGTV, hands down. Flipping on the addictive network is like a falling down a rabbit hole filled with home renovation wishes and real estate dreams—and we wouldn't want it any other way. We all have our favorite shows and personalities, but there's a lot more to know about the network's fascinating history! Here, we've dug up some lesser-known facts that will make you love HGTV even more than you already do.
The idea for HGTV was hatched in 1992.
Radio executive Kenneth Lowe had the idea to create a network dedicated to homes and gardening, and subsequently purchased a video production company in Knoxville, Tennessee, to get things off the ground.
But the channel didn't officially launch until 1994.
On December 30, 1994, HGTV officially hit the air waves, reaching 6.5 million homes.
The channel was originally going to be called Home, Lawn, and Garden Channel.
Obviously, it was later shortened to the HGTV we all know and love today.
"House Hunters" was one of the first shows in its lineup.
House Hunters hit television screens in September 1999.
The channel has even inspired skits on "Saturday Night Live."
Like this one, from 2010, where a faux show called Dream Home Extreme tries to give away a $2 million home makeover to a less-than-enthused contestant, played by Emma Stone. Watch the sketch here.
HGTV airs all over the world.
The channel now reaches 69 countries, including England and Australia.
Hillary Clinton is a big fan of "Love It or List It."
In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, Hillary said she finds the remodeling show "very calming."
You can buy HGTV products at dozens of retailers.
HGTV's home design director Nancy Fire is in charge of curating products that fit into the themes of the network's most popular shows. Retailers include Buy Buy Baby, Bassett Furniture, and HSN.
The first HGTV Dream Home Giveaway was a huge success.
Launched in spring 1997, the contest received 1.2 million entries in its inaugural year. Nearly two decades later, it continues to be a huge hit—the 2016 contest garnered more than 127 million entries.
"HGTV Design Star" was the network's first-ever reality competition show.
The reality series aired for eight seasons before signing off in in 2013.
HGTV Magazine launched in October 2011.
It was recognized as Ad Age's Magazine Launch of the Year in 2012.
HGTV is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, HGTV is a sister brand to Food Network, Cooking Channel, and DIY Network, just to name a few. (What a group, huh?!)
It was revealed in 2012 that "House Hunters" is partially staged.
News outlets went nuts in 2012 when news broke that some parts of House Hunters are scripted. HGTV then went on to release a statement to Entertainment Weekly essentially confirming the report. In the meantime, several outlets have poked fun at the show—including the crew of House Hunters themselves.
An official "HGTV Day" was declared in Tennessee.
To mark the 20th anniversary of its inception, HGTV declared September 9, 2014 "HGTV Day" with a celebration in Knoxville. Sounds like our kind of holiday!
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