Will Losing Its Top Show ‘Fixer Upper’ Completely Destroy HGTV?
Fixer Upper fans are sad to see their favorite show leave the air, but they’re nowhere near as devastated as HGTV probably is. The home remodeling series featuring Chip and Joanna Gaines was by far the network’s most popular show — a whopping 3.19 million people tuned in each week! So, can the network survive losing its star child?
“The end of Fixer Upper is a very big deal for the network,” HGTV & Me podcast host Rebecca Lavoie told Fox News. “HGTV is a channel that depends on blockbuster, talent-driven shows to drive audience for their lesser content, new content, magazine, furniture line and overall brand. Before Fixer Upper, Property Brothers was probably the channel’s most valuable property, which is why the brothers are at the center of several spinoffs. But even that show has probably seen its peak, while Fixer Upper is arguably very much on the upswing and there are no other shows that touch it in terms of quality, charm, and sheer watchability.”
On the flip side, TV producer Geoff Skinner says that’s exactly why now’s a good time to end it. “There is great honor and integrity in going out on a high note,” he explained. “I wish more shows would follow suit. Fixer Upper has an outstanding team both in front of and behind the camera, and really great showrunners, and I’m sure they know what they’re doing.” Still, it’s hard to imagine that HGTV would be happy to nix the show when Flip or Flop — which is in second place for network ratings — is raking in nearly two million fewer viewers on a weekly basis. Plus, with Christina and Tarek El Moussa’s divorce, there’s no telling how long they can even keep their show going!
Chip and Joanna revealed the sad news of Fixer Upper‘s end on Tuesday, Sept. 26, writing “It is with both sadness and expectation that we share the news that Season 5 of Fixer Upper will be our last. While we are confident that this is the right choice for us, it has for sure not been an easy one to come to terms with. Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen. How bittersweet to say goodbye to the very thing that introduced us all in the first place.”
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