HGTV's First Time Home Buyers' Hour Key Driver for Primetime Lineup

November 5, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- As Congress considers a vote to extend tax credits for first-time home buyers, first-time home buyers continue to vote for HGTV. The network's "First-Time Home Buyers' Hour," which airs Monday-Friday from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT, is breaking ratings records, posting a 33 percent ratings increase among P18-49 and gaining at least 25 percent among all key demographics during October 2009. Since the programming block featuring My First Place and Property Virgins began airing in May, ratings have increased among all key demographics.

During the week of October 26, the First-Time Home Buyers' Hour delivered a 1.07 HH Rtg/0.45 P25-54 Rtg, delivering its best performance season-to-date among P25-54. All key demographics saw healthy growth as compared to the previous week, with P25-54 increasing by 22 percent and P18-49 increasing by 17 percent week-to-week. The hour continues to post solid gains, with all key demographics growing by more than 35 percent year-over-year.

"My First Place and Property Virgins are both produced in a fresh, authentic style that lets the viewer become a fly on the wall and accompany these first-time home buyers on their journey," says Jim Samples, president, HGTV. "The First-Time Home Buyers' Hour is a perfect anchor to HGTV's primetime, bringing younger viewers to our air and then inviting them to stay."

HGTV also has seen tremendous success with the one-hour special, My First Place: Lessons Learned. Premiering on Wednesday, September 16 at 8 p.m., it ranked as one of the top 10 rated specials on the network in 2009-to-date among key demos of P25-54 and P18-49.

"In this evolving housing market, HGTV will continue to offer first-time home buyers the relevant information and insights they need to prepare for the real estate plunge," said Samples.

About HGTV

HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and is one of cable's top-rated networks. HGTV's website, HGTV.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of 5 million unique visitors per month. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and San Francisco, HGTV is wholly owned by Scripps Networks.

Scripps Networks is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet. The company's media portfolio includes: Lifestyle Media, with popular lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network and country music network Great American Country (GAC); and Interactive Services, including leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch.

SOURCE HGTV