Upfronts 2015: HGTV just keeps on building with 10 new shows

Like a house that just keeps on expanding, HGTV announced a slew of new programs at its upfront presentation Wednesday in New York.

The network, which recently marked its 20th anniversary, is launching 10 new programs in 2015 and producing fresh episodes of 20 existing titles for a total of more than 800 hours of original programming.

“We never take our eye off the ball when it comes to identifying the great personalities, trends and lifestyle aspirations that will create tomorrow’s programming hit,” said HGTV President Kathleen Finch.

In the vein of successful HGTV titles like “House Hunters International,” “Hawaii Life” and “Island Hunters,” several new programs play into the fantasy of escape.

“Log Cabin Living” documents families abandoning the city for the country and is not to be confused with “Big Sky Living,” which will showcase couples house-hunting in Montana. Meanwhile, “Sale of Two Cities” will compare real estate available in two different cities at the same price point.

Despite some controversy surrounding the outcome of “Ellen’s Design Challenge,” that series is slated return for a second season, and HGTV is adding more competition shows to its lineup. One new show is “Beach Flip,” in which contestants vie in a beachfront renovation challenge.

The network will also continue its push into personality-driven programming with “Mark & Derek’s Excellent Flip,” a series that will feature Derek Hough and Mark Ballas, both of “Dancing With the Stars” fame, attempting to renovate and resell a Los Angeles home in just four weeks.

It will end the year with specials built around some of its most popular duos. “Property Brothers at Home on the Range” will featuring omnipresent twins Jonathan and Drew Scott at a ranch retreat, and “Flip or Flop at Home” will follow Tarek and Christina El Moussa as they renovate their home and prepare for a new baby.

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