DYNAMIC RENOVATIONS OF VINTAGE PROPERTIES, BEACHFRONT HOMES, BACKYARD BUILDINGS AND SWIMMING POOLS ENHANCE DIY NETWORK PROGRAMMING ROSTER IN 2017
Celebs, Experts and Novices Boldly Take On DIY Projects for Fun and Family
NEW YORK [March 22, 2017] Home improvement powerhouse DIY Network, which delivered its highest-rated and most-watched year ever among primetime viewers A25-54 and W25-54 in 2016, is loading in 301 hours of new original programming in 2017, including 12 new series, 27 returning favorites and 22 one-hour specials.
As part of the Scripps Lifestyle Studios, DIYNetwork.com offers entertaining videos, home improvement advice and step-by-step instructions for users. With more than five million video views per month across digital, social and OTT platforms, DIYNetwork.com is a valuable resource for those with an active interest in home renovation.
“DIY Network’s impressive seven percent year-over-year ratings gain and the 54 percent year-over-year increase in its digital, social and OTT platform video views confirm the popularity of the gritty, but fun process of home renovation,” said Allison Page, general manager, U.S. programming and development for HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country. “On-air and online, we’re highlighting the innovative ideas that experts and novices are doing in home renovation.”
This year, DIY Network offers new celebrity home renovation adventures like Renovation Realities: Ben & Ginger. The series follows ABC-TV News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, the popular weather anchor for Good Morning America, and her husband, NBC-TV and Extra reporter Ben Aaron, as they buy a fixer upper outside New York City and renovate their way to their dream home. Ginger brings her home repair know-how to the project, guiding novice Ben as they navigate the challenging and often hilarious realities of a renovation. Pop icon Vanilla Ice returns in a new season of The Vanilla Ice Project this July. New episodes feature Vanilla Ice as he tackles his biggest and most expensive renovation yet—the transformation of a dilapidated 7,000-square -foot home into a contemporary oceanfront estate, featuring a rocket ship play space, an indoor hibachi grill room and a custom pool.
DIY Network also takes some of its most popular home renovation themes to the outdoors in 2017. In the new series Big Beach Builds, contractor and fifth-generation builder Marnie Oursler renovates dated beach homes in the coastal communities near Bethany Beach, Delaware, and transforms them into dream retreats. Backyard Goldmine stars former Cooking Channel host Ben Sargent as he converts dilapidated barns and old outbuildings into rental wonders that become an invaluable source of second income. Each episode of Pool Kings showcases the creation of dramatic dream pools with over-the-top features such as cascading 15-foot waterfalls, luxurious grottos and backyard water parks. Docked Out features marine contractor Jason Varney and his team as they create spectacular custom deck spaces for clients who love lakeside living.
A host of new series that put a new lens on unused spaces and on older homes also fills the DIY Network pipeline. Amazing Space features “found-space specialist” Eric Griffin as he finds untapped areas in clients’ homes, including attics, storage areas and staircases, and converts the unused square footage into functional new spaces. Brothers Chase and Brock Jurgensen star in Rustic Renovation, tackling the renovation and restoration of old cabins in the woods of Prior Lake, Minnesota. Vintage Rehab features Pittsburgh native Ally Mahon as she revives charming, but neglected, old homes.
Many popular DIY Network experts return for new seasons in 2017: Builder Jeff Devlin, star of Stone House Revival, is back to restore centuries-old homes in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, while Nashville Flipped star Troy Dean Shafer returns to renovate and flip rundown homes in Music City. Other popular returning series include Texas Flip N Move; First Time Flippers; Barnwood Builders (Mark Bowe); Salvage Dawgs; Treehouse Guys; Building Alaska; Tiny House, Big Living; Mega Decks; and Yard Crashers starring backyard expert Matt Blashaw.
“DIY Network continues to build on the home renovation themes that strike a chord with viewers,” said Page. “It’s our job to showcase the process of home improvement and the experts who are passionate about it.”
DIY Network spring/summer 2017 programming highlights:
Big Beach Builds
Airs Mondays at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Dated beach homes transform into dream retreats when contractor and fifth-generation builder Marnie Oursler renovates properties in the coastal communities near Bethany Beach, Delaware, in DIY Network’s Big Beach Builds. The series follows Marnie as she builds on her family’s construction heritage to restore beach houses into beautifully charming homes that can withstand hot summers, high tides and hurricane seasons for years to come.
Backyard Goldmine
Premieres Thursday, April 20, at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
In Backyard Goldmine, host Ben Sargent is on a mission in Vermont to convert homeowners’ unused backyard buildings into remarkable rental properties. Each episode features Ben as he cleverly transforms these uninhabitable spaces into fabulous and functional sources for added income. The series also showcases how the renovated space can be used when it’s not rented— the added finished space becomes a fun family retreat area to use as an art studio, home office or a kids’ playroom.
Docked Out
Premieres Monday, May 1, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Marine contractor Jason Varney amps up lakeside living in Docked Out. Set in Knoxville, Tennessee, this series follows Jason and his team as they create gorgeous custom deck spaces for clients, including over-the-top boathouses and tricked-out sundecks.
Pool Kings
Premieres Monday, May 29, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Pool Kings showcases how regular backyards can be upgraded with high-end pools and spas fit for resort living. Each episode follows a team of pool craftsmen as they create amazing pools and decks tailored to their clients’ wildest imaginations. The series showcases the spectacular and unique features of these one-of-a-kind pools, including miniature sandy beaches with real palm trees, huge infinity-edged hot tubs, gorgeous fountains, fire pits and fabulous entertaining areas.
Renovation Realities: Ben & Ginger
Premieres Saturday, May 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, best known as the weather anchor for Good Morning America, and her husband, NBC and Extra reporter Ben Aaron, take on different TV roles next summer as they buy and revamp their first home in DIY Network’s new series Renovation Realities: Ben & Ginger. The series follows the couple as they purchase and renovate a fixer upper outside New York City. Ginger brings her home repair know-how to guide novice Ben as they navigate the challenging and often hilarious realities of a renovation.
Amazing Space
Premieres on Wednesday, July 12, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Amazing Space stars Eric Griffin as he finds the surprising extra square footage in homes where the owners didn’t know it existed. Each episode features Eric as he pinpoints quirky little spaces under the stairs for storage or maximizes the odd layouts in attics and basements. In the end, he gives homeowners beautiful and functional new areas for home offices and bonus rooms.
Rustic Renovation
Premieres on Wednesday, August 2, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Brothers Chase and Brock Jurgensen star in Rustic Renovation, a series where they renovate family cabins in their northern Minnesota hometown and turn them into stylish living spaces full of rustic charm. As they modernize these old homes, the brothers also find ways to creatively incorporate a few original elements, such as reclaimed wood, into the design to the delight of their clients.
Vintage Rehab
Premieres on Wednesday, September 6, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Watch Ally Mahon, licensed real estate agent and expert house flipper, as she revives historic Pittsburgh homes in the new series Vintage Rehab. Ally, along with her husband, Buddy, modernize these fixer uppers in ways that maximize each family’s home renovation budget. From new kitchens to master baths and updated floorplans, each vintage house becomes a beautiful new family home that also adds value to the neighborhood.
2017 Scripps Lifestyle Studios featured content:
House Counselor
To help everyone from millennial renters to first-time homeowners and new parents find their style and get their spaces in shape, designer and home remodeling expert Laurie March tackles renovation questions and challenges.
Bros or Pros
Handyman and designer Dan Faires and his brother share how-to knowledge on home projects that anyone can complete with a friend. The Faires brothers also offer advice on which tasks are best left to the experts.
Halloween
DIYNetwork.com scares up some fun with crafty Halloween decorations, DIY kids’ costumes, pumpkin-carving templates and crowd-pleasing recipes.
ABOUT DIY NETWORK
Currently in more than 58 million U.S. households, DIY Network is the go-to destination for wall-breaking, roof-ripping, house-hauling, yard-crashing series. The network’s award-winning website, DIYNetwork.com, consistently ranks among America’s top home and garden destinations for entertaining videos, home improvement advice and step-by-step instructions. Fans can interact with other home improvement enthusiasts and do-it-yourselfers through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, DIY Network is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., which also owns and operates HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.
ABOUT SCRIPPS LIFESTYLE STUDIOS
Launched in December 2015, Scripps Lifestyle Studios is a digital business division of Scripps Networks Interactive, created to drive digital content innovation and advertising solutions. In 2016, Scripps Lifestyle Studios delivered over 5 billion total video views across various digital platforms and has achieved an average of 812 million video views and 356 million visitors across its platforms in the early months of 2017. Combining the digital content operations of HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, Great American Country, and Food.com, this full service editorial unit spearheads development of compelling lifestyle experiences across social media, apps, websites, third party offerings and more. Scripps Lifestyle Studios operates physical locations through the Food Network Kitchen in New York and the HGTV Studio in Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.scrippslifestylestudios.com.
