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Magnolia Network

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Magnolia Network
HeadquartersWaco, Texas, U.S.
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery
Chip Gaines
Joanna Gaines
Sister channels
List
History
LaunchedSeptember 30, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-09-30)[1] (original launch; as DIY Network)
January 5, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-01-05)[2][3] (relaunch; as Magnolia Network)
Former namesDIY Network (1999–2022)
Links
Websitewww.magnolia.com/network
Availability
Streaming media
Service(s)FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, Vidgo, YouTube TV

Magnolia Network is an American basic cable network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Chip and Joanna Gaines. It broadcasts personality-based lifestyle programs related to topics such as home construction, renovation, and cuisine.

The channel first launched on September 30, 1999, as DIY Network, a spin-off of HGTV focusing on instructional programming related to "do it yourself" (DIY) activities such as home improvement. It later focused on reality series following personalities involved in home renovation and related businesses. In 2022, the channel relaunched as Magnolia Network, which is led by Chip and Joanna Gaines of the HGTV series Fixer Upper.

As of December 2023, Magnolia Network is available to approximately 51,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2016 peak of 62,000,000 households.[4]

History

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Former logo used from 1999 to 2022.

DIY was the second network to be launched by the E. W. Scripps Company, following the success of HGTV, with the network's first two years adapting HGTV's program library into programs for certain DIY niches as Scripps filmed new original content for the new network. The network offered a large amount of broadband content (originally project worksheets and instruction pages for printout by users, later video clips and more) to create demand for and help cable operators launch and justify their cable broadband services.

Scripps announced that DIY Network would launch in high definition on May 1, 2010, on "two prominent distributors", adding 200 new original programs by year's end.[5] One of the "prominent distributors" turned out to be Dish Network, which launched DIY HD on May 12, 2010.[6] DirecTV added DIY HD on September 19, 2012.

Relaunch as Magnolia Network

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In November 2018, Chip and Joanna Gaines of the former HGTV series Fixer Upper announced on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that they were in early talks to form a "lifestyle focused media network" with Discovery Inc. via their personal company Magnolia.[7][8] The duo had left HGTV shortly after the acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive by Discovery; after realizing that Fixer Upper had been one of the network's top programs, Discovery CEO David Zaslav met the Gaineses at their home in Waco, Texas to discuss a joint venture.[9]

In April 2019, Discovery officially announced their new venture, and that its linear television component would launch some time in 2020, replacing DIY Network.[10] HGTV president Allison Page was named president of the venture, reporting directly to Zaslav.[9] Discovery announced on January 16, 2020, that the Magnolia Network would launch on October 4.[11] The launch was then delayed indefinitely on April 21, as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the ability to produce the network's launch programming.[12] Magnolia Network went on with a four-part preview special that month, Magnolia Presents: A Look Back & A Look Ahead, which premiered on DIY Network to a total of 2.5 million viewers.[13]

On August 4, 2020, it was announced that Magnolia Network would launch in 2021. It was also announced that a revival of Fixer Upper, Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, was also in production for Magnolia Network.[14][15] Due to the delay in production, a preview of Magnolia Network programming debuted as part of the January 4, 2021, launch of the Discovery+ streaming service. A second preview special, A Look Back & A Look Ahead Vol. 2, premiered on Discovery+ on April 23 and DIY Network the next day. The Magnolia Network app and an early slate of programming on Discovery+, including Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, launched on July 15.[13]

On January 5, 2022, DIY Network officially relaunched as Magnolia Network.[16][17] Within days, one of its launch and spotlight series, Home Work, was removed from the network and Discovery+ due to allegations of substandard work, lengthy delays and egregious billing by the show's hosts, Andrew and Candis Meredith, on previous projects. The series was soon brought back to Magnolia Network after the investigation found no "ill or malicious" intents by the couple that ran the series.[18][19]

In April 2022, Discovery Inc. merged with WarnerMedia to form Warner Bros. Discovery. On April 7, 2022, it was reported that after the completion of the merger, Magnolia Network's leadership would report to Casey Bloys—HBO and HBO Max (now Max) chief content officer—rather than Zaslav, nor head of U.S. Networks Kathleen Finch (who oversaw the former SNI channels as chief officer of lifestyle brands after the Discovery acquisition).[20][21][9] On August 4, 2022, it was reported that selected Magnolia Network programs would be added to HBO Max on September 30, 2022, with Discovery+ remaining the network's main streaming home.[22][23]

Programming

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In the past, DIY Network's programming focused on:

Earlier shows included a variety of topics, including auto repair, jewelry design, plumbing, boating, knitting and quilting, and woodworking. DIY's renovation shows included programs that had a specific historical restoration focus, like Restored, and some shows had specific geographic focuses, like shows outlining historical restorations in Virginia [24] and South Carolina,[25] for example.

The network also carried This Old House repeats until the mid-2010s, when the property moved to other outlets. As recently as late-2009, it aired some older HGTV archive programming, including the Carol Duvall Show.

As Magnolia Network, the channel carries a similar mixture of personality-based series relating to home design, construction, renovation, and landscaping, with new original programming, and programs carried over from DIY Network (including Barnwood Builders, Building Off the Grid, and returning reruns of This Old House, among others). The network's scope was also expanded to include food-oriented series, such as Family Dinner and Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, and other series such as Extraordinary Stories Behind Everyday Things.[26][16][17]

In 2024, the network expanded into reality competition programming with three series produced by the Gaines; the artistic roller skating competition series Roller Jam, talent competition series Second Chance Stage, and game show Human vs. Hamster. All three series premiered exclusively on Max.[27][28]

International versions

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Canada

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A Canadian version of DIY Network launched on October 19, 2009 by CW Media (a consortium of Canwest and Goldman Sachs), replacing the Canadian version of Fine Living.[29] As in the U.S., a preview of Magnolia Network programming was initially offered in Canada via Discovery+ upon its local launch in October 2021,[30] before DIY Network Canada relaunched as Magnolia Network on March 28, 2022.[31]

This version of the Magnolia Network, now owned by Corus Entertainment, is set to either rebranded or closed as Rogers Sports & Media will launch the new Magnolia Network on January 1, 2025.

References

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  1. ^ "advertisement" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. August 23, 1999. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network To Launch Slate On App & Discovery+ First, DIY Takeover To Follow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Hayes, Dade (September 28, 2021). "Chip And Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network Reveals Linear Launch Date, Rebrand Of DIY To Kick Off With 'Fixer Upper: Welcome Home'". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. ^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. ^ 2010 Cable Upfronts: DIY Goes HD In May - Scripps Network Service To Unveil 17 New Series In 2010, Multichannel News, April 20, 2010
  6. ^ "DISH Network Boosts Industry-Leading HD Lineup With Six New Channels". Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  7. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 10, 2018). "Chip and Joanna Gaines in Talks With Discovery for Linear Channel and Streaming Platform". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines announce a new TV network with Discovery: 'We are excited to be back'". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (April 9, 2022). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Road From HGTV To HBO As 'Fixer Upper' Stars Switch Sides Post-WB/Discovery Merger". Deadline. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "DIY to Be Rebranded as Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Discovery Network". TheWrap. April 10, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Chip's and Jo's new network has launch date". KWTX-TV. Gray Television. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Gelman, Vlada (April 21, 2020). "TVLine Items: Chip & Joanna's Network Delayed, NOS4A2's New Date and More". TVLine. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (April 19, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network Unveils Four New Series For Launch, Sets Second Preview Special". Deadline. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network To Launch Slate On App & Discovery+ First, DIY Takeover To Follow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Hayes, Dade (September 28, 2021). "Chip And Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network Reveals Linear Launch Date, Rebrand Of DIY To Kick Off With 'Fixer Upper: Welcome Home'". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network To Launch Slate On App & Discovery+ First, DIY Takeover To Follow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Hayes, Dade (September 28, 2021). "Chip And Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network Reveals Linear Launch Date, Rebrand Of DIY To Kick Off With 'Fixer Upper: Welcome Home'". Deadline Hollywood.
  18. ^ Pierce, Scott (January 10, 2022). "Utah couple's home renovation show yanked off the air". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "Magnolia Network to bring back 'Home Work' after no 'ill or malicious intent' found during renovation projects". Fox Business. January 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Maas, Jennifer (April 7, 2022). "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network to Move Under HBO at Warner Bros. Discovery (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 7, 2022). "WarnerMedia-Discovery Deal To Forge Deeper Ties Between OWN, Warner Bros. TV & HBO Max". Deadline. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  22. ^ Weprin, Alex (August 4, 2022). "Magnolia Network Shows Go to HBO Max and CNN Originals Go to Discovery+ as Warner Bros. Discovery Keeps Streaming Services Separate, For Now". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  23. ^ Maas, Jennifer (August 4, 2022). "'Fixer Upper' and Other Magnolia Network Shows Coming to HBO Max in September (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "Mount Airy Historic Rehab - The Local Scoop". September 2, 2015.
  25. ^ "discovery+".
  26. ^ Eakin, Marah (April 4, 2022). "The 12 Best (Non-Gaines-Related) Shows on the Magnolia Network". Vulture. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  27. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines Set Fall Premiere for 3 New Reality Series, Including Hamster Competition Show". People.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  28. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines Are Creating a Roller Skating Dance Competition TV Show — Here's Why". People.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  29. ^ "DIY Network Canada is a Smash Hit". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  30. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 12, 2021). "Discovery Plus Set to Launch in Canada". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  31. ^ "Corus to launch Magnolia Network Canada". RealScreen. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
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