Why won't HGTV update their on-air look? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

windows7 · 2010-03-09, 08:37 PM

When HGTV Canada first launched by Atlantis Alliance in 1997, it mirrored the US original in on-air branding. That includes the official logo -- that tends to "unpack" from within itself and expand -- as well as background "wallpaper" (I guess says it best) in promos and station ID.

As time went on the US original changed. New backgrounds for on-air branding were slightly changed, but the logo that remained the same; instead of "unpacking", "swooped" from left to right becoming more opaque to solid when it finished. Also, their slogan changed to "You should see what's on HGTV!" with a pretty catchy jingle. But here in Canada, absolutely no change. Now this on-air 'refresh' for the American original was several YEARS ago.

Now you'll see the actual HGTV logo has been updated a few months ago (more noticable when you visit HGTV.com compared to HGTV.ca) and it's now 2010 but the stale old HGTV remains the same as it's first launch date here [...other than the fact that they dropped the "Canada" to "HGTV Canada" about 4 or 5 years after first launch].

This isn't even a Canwest typical laziness issue, as I've stated the American version of HGTV would 'refresh' but not Canada under AA ownership.

If Canwest uses the HGTV "brand" from Scripps, why can't they take the most modern version of it?

CTVglobemedia took several months adopt the first noticable Discovery Channel logo.

CastleRockDays · 2010-03-09, 09:28 PM

yeah we're kinda behind

Court TV America is now TruTV, but our's is still Court TV. OLN America is now Versus, but our's is still OLN. And it's the same for a bunch of other channels too.

vjose78 · 2010-03-10, 09:01 AM

Same goes with Discovery Civilization and soon Discovery Health. Funny how most of these channels are owned by either CTV or Canwest. I'm sure once Shaw takes over Canwest we will hopefully see some new logos for the specialties they will own like HGTV.

travisc · 2010-03-10, 10:22 AM

Does it really matter? New logos or not, they'll be playing the same crap.

vjose78 · 2010-03-10, 10:39 AM

Not necessarily true, they may get new or better shows. What exactly is crappy about those channels? Heck, I think DIY Network is a great and have always like HGTV and Food Network.

kirjtc2 · 2010-03-10, 01:00 PM

I don't think it really matters. Not too many people watch a channel based on what their logo looks like.

Hell, there are some TV stations in the US that have used the same theme music for their newscasts for 40 years.

CastleRockDays · 2010-03-11, 02:15 AM

I actually prefer DIY Network over HGTV. But anyways, back on topic. I think it's nice for a change now & then to freshen things up. It took Discovery Canada about a year to finally change their logo to match Discovery America.
I noticed while watching Home Improvement the other day, that CMT Canada has slightly changed their theme during advertisements of their CMT shows. And their logo is also now in a box.

Anteater · 2010-03-11, 09:16 PM

I noticed CMT's new look as well, looks nice.

2010-03-09, 08:37 PM	#1
windows7 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 304	Why won't HGTV update their on-air look? When HGTV Canada first launched by Atlantis Alliance in 1997, it mirrored the US original in on-air branding. That includes the official logo -- that tends to "unpack" from within itself and expand -- as well as background "wallpaper" (I guess says it best) in promos and station ID. As time went on the US original changed. New backgrounds for on-air branding were slightly changed, but the logo that remained the same; instead of "unpacking", "swooped" from left to right becoming more opaque to solid when it finished. Also, their slogan changed to "You should see what's on HGTV!" with a pretty catchy jingle. But here in Canada, absolutely no change. Now this on-air 'refresh' for the American original was several YEARS ago. Now you'll see the actual HGTV logo has been updated a few months ago (more noticable when you visit HGTV.com compared to HGTV.ca) and it's now 2010 but the stale old HGTV remains the same as it's first launch date here [...other than the fact that they dropped the "Canada" to "HGTV Canada" about 4 or 5 years after first launch]. This isn't even a Canwest typical laziness issue, as I've stated the American version of HGTV would 'refresh' but not Canada under AA ownership. If Canwest uses the HGTV "brand" from Scripps, why can't they take the most modern version of it? CTVglobemedia took several months adopt the first noticable Discovery Channel logo.

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2010-03-09, 09:28 PM	#2
CastleRockDays Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 497	yeah we're kinda behind Court TV America is now TruTV, but our's is still Court TV. OLN America is now Versus, but our's is still OLN. And it's the same for a bunch of other channels too.

2010-03-10, 09:01 AM	#3
vjose78 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,318	Same goes with Discovery Civilization and soon Discovery Health. Funny how most of these channels are owned by either CTV or Canwest. I'm sure once Shaw takes over Canwest we will hopefully see some new logos for the specialties they will own like HGTV.

2010-03-10, 10:22 AM	#4
travisc Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Uxbridge, ON Posts: 3,595	Does it really matter? New logos or not, they'll be playing the same crap.

2010-03-10, 10:39 AM	#5
vjose78 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,318	Not necessarily true, they may get new or better shows. What exactly is crappy about those channels? Heck, I think DIY Network is a great and have always like HGTV and Food Network.

2010-03-10, 01:00 PM	#6
kirjtc2 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericton, NB Posts: 617	I don't think it really matters. Not too many people watch a channel based on what their logo looks like. Hell, there are some TV stations in the US that have used the same theme music for their newscasts for 40 years.

2010-03-11, 02:15 AM	#7
CastleRockDays Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 497	I actually prefer DIY Network over HGTV. But anyways, back on topic. I think it's nice for a change now & then to freshen things up. It took Discovery Canada about a year to finally change their logo to match Discovery America. I noticed while watching Home Improvement the other day, that CMT Canada has slightly changed their theme during advertisements of their CMT shows. And their logo is also now in a box.

2010-03-11, 09:16 PM	#8
Anteater Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 450	I noticed CMT's new look as well, looks nice.