May 4 , 2010

House & Home TV moves to online programming

Breaks frontiers with weekly online show

House & Home Media is pleased to announce an exciting new venture for the lifestyle brand: a move away from conventional television and into online programming. This January, House & Home Television launched its 10th season available on demand at houseandhome.com/tv.

H&H TV has enjoyed a huge viewing audience over the 12 years that it has aired on CTV, Global and HGTV. Back in 1998, when CTV first launched a new daily show hosted by Lynda Reeves, decorating and lifestyle programming was big news. The first of its kind in Canada, the show, taped at CTV's studios, quickly found a loyal following. Much has changed since then. The conventional and cable networks are, today, overcrowded with decorating and lifestyle programming, largely reality-based.

The decision to move H&H TV online was, in part, a reaction to viewers' appreciation for the high-quality, magazine format of the show. This, plus a determination to keep the program on brand with Canada's premier home design magazine, made the decision to self-produce a natural one.

Sponsors quickly came on board, and the show was launched featuring an ensemble cast of H&H editors, designers, chefs, and Lynda herself. Shows are filmed both inside the House & Home Media offices in Toronto and on location. Original content is updated weekly, and viewers can subscribe to a custom e-newsletter to receive show updates.

The tenth season of H&H Online TV is currently in production, with 50 new shows hosted by Lynda Reeves and H&H Editor Suzanne Dimma. The shows feature experts from H&H magazine leading house tours, decorating lessons, cooking demos, DIY projects and shopping excursions.

"We're really happy to be producing quality content," says Producer Sheri Graham Delagran. "Our goal is to inspire and motivate our viewers with entertaining segments."

Lynda Reeves admits her initial reluctance to switch to an online format. "I was concerned about production values and our ability to make a show as good or better than anything on TV in our category. Now, I'm so proud of our online show that I'm guilty of showing it to anyone who will let me. The production value is fabulous," she says.

"Producing our own television show was the next logical step for our growing brand. We've seen a huge increase in online traffic at houseandhome.com, and our new online show has been largely responsible," says Kirby Miller, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of House & Home Media. "While our two magazines, House & Home and Maison & Demeure, continue to be the primary resource for anyone interested in design or decorating, our online show builds upon our magazines' content in an engaging, complementary format."

The current season of House & Home Online TV is sponsored by Home Hardware, Vaughan Mills and Click Lighting. "We're delighted that House & Home TV is back, only this time it will be reaching even more dedicated home renovators and decorators with its new online format. It's a perfect fit for the Home Hardware core consumer," says Mark Wilson, Vice President, Client Service Director, PHD.

House & Home Online TV is now online at houseandhome.com/tv.