HGTV Losing Viewers As Hearst Plans Network Magazine

Indefatigable house hunting channel HGTV posted a 6.1 percent drop in fourth quarter ratings, reports the New York Post.

It's bad timing for Hearst, which recently told WWD that it's partnering with HGTV parent company Scripps to launch a network magazine, modeled on the success of Food Network Magazine.

Their model might be obsolete, considering Food Network posted an even greater 10.3 percent loss. With channels like Bravo and TLC making "edgier" food and shelter shows, viewers can't stomach Food Network and HGTV's rerun-heavy programming, the Post suggests.

Scripps says it's all relative. "Food Network is about 20 percent ahead of where it was two years ago. The growth was so strong in 2009 that we were running up against some strong comparisons," a spokesperson told the Post.

kstoeffel@observer.com :: @kstoeffel