Introduction to the Shift in Home and Real Estate Entertainment
From luxury listings to dramatic home makeovers, Netflix’s expanding lifestyle lineup is beginning to look unmistakably HGTV-inspired. In recent years, the streaming giant has steadily built out its home and real estate catalog, adding fan-favorite series like “Selling the City,” “Owning Manhattan,” “Selling the OC,” “Selling Sunset,” and many more.
The Rise of Netflix in Home and Real Estate Entertainment
As Netflix has more than doubled down on real estate reality TV, HGTV has moved in the opposite direction. The longtime home-renovation network has significantly scaled back its lineup, recently cutting shows such as “Bargain Block,” “Married to Real Estate,” and “Christina on the Coast.” Once the go-to destination for renovation and design television, HGTV now faces competition from an unlikely successor—raising the question: Is Netflix the new HGTV?
The shift reflects broader changes in viewer habits, as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms for the kind of comfort TV that once defined cable.
Netflix’s Entry into Home Improvement and Real Estate
The streaming service first tapped into the home improvement and real estate makeover realm in 2018 with the series “Stay Here.” One year later, “Selling Sunset” premiered on Netflix and quickly rose to the platform’s No. 1 watched series. Netflix’s growing lifestyle lineup is beginning to look unmistakably HGTV-inspired. Koray – stock.adobe.com
Expansion of Netflix’s Real Estate Reality Genre
After “Selling Sunset” became a breakout hit, the streaming service tightened its grip on the real estate reality genre with many spinoffs, including, “Million Dollar Beach House” (2020), “Selling Tampa” (2021), “Selling the OC”(2022), “Selling the City”(2025), and “Owning Manhattan” (2025). The success of these shows prompted Netflix to build out a mini-franchise and a broader real estate slate, making it a go-to destination for bingeing real estate TV.
Viewership and Ratings Comparison
In recent years, Netflix has unquestionably reached a larger audience than the majority of platforms in the US. According to Nielsen’s, Netflix garnered a total TV viewership share of around 8% to 9% in 2025, making it one of the top media distributors overall. Netflix’s viewership numbers represent hours watched across content worldwide. The streamer has hundreds of millions of subscribers. HGTV’s viewership is based on traditional linear cable ratings in the US, a smaller and shrinking market segment. As Netflix has more than doubled down on reality TV, HGTV has moved in the opposite direction. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Decline of HGTV’s Viewership
Meanwhile, HGTV’s audience has significantly declined in recent years. A July 2025 report from Deadline says the decreasing number of viewers is partly to blame for the removal of the shows. The outlet, which spoke to numerous sources that produce for the network, said that HGTV averaged about 1.5 million viewers in 2017, citing Nielsen. However, since then, the network has struggled to bring in audiences, with its average viewership last year coming in at 773,000. Breakout hit “Selling Sunset” quickly became Netflix’s No. 1 watched series. Getty Images for "Selling Sunset"
Challenges Faced by HGTV
The US Television Database lists HGTV as the 11th most popular TV channel, with an average of 503,000 viewers. According to Deadline’s story, the company is struggling to attract viewers aged 18 to 49, losing 26% among that demographic in the last year. In 2017, viewers aged 18 to 49 averaged 425,000, while 2024 saw only 101,000. “Selling the OC,” a “Selling Sunset” spinoff, is also a Netflix fan-favorite. Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Production Costs and Competition from Social Media
The outlet noted that part of the reason for HGTV’s troubles is the large budget it takes to produce and put on a home renovation show. The overhaul shows reportedly cost upward of $500,000 per episode. One source told the outlet, “Home reno shows are expensive because all of the materials are jacked up and on delay, the price of wood and marble and everything else is going up, so these shows don’t make as much sense anymore.” “Selling the City” is another popular “Selling Sunset” spinoff series. Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Conclusion
Netflix has overtaken cable as the dominant way viewers engage with TV, and is set to premiere several real-estate-focused series in 2026. The shift in viewership habits and the high production costs of home renovation shows have contributed to HGTV’s decline. As the streaming giant continues to expand its lifestyle lineup, it’s clear that Netflix is becoming the new go-to destination for home and real estate entertainment.
FAQs
- Q: What is happening to HGTV’s viewership?
A: HGTV’s viewership has significantly declined in recent years, with the network struggling to attract viewers aged 18 to 49. - Q: Why is HGTV canceling its shows?
A: The decreasing number of viewers and high production costs are partly to blame for the removal of the shows. - Q: What is Netflix’s role in the shift in home and real estate entertainment?
A: Netflix has expanded its lifestyle lineup, adding fan-favorite series like “Selling the City,” “Owning Manhattan,” “Selling the OC,” “Selling Sunset,” and many more, making it a go-to destination for bingeing real estate TV. - Q: How does Netflix’s viewership compare to HGTV’s?
A: Netflix has reached a larger audience than the majority of platforms in the US, with a total TV viewership share of around 8% to 9% in 2025, while HGTV’s viewership is based on traditional linear cable ratings in the US, a smaller and shrinking market segment.
