Channel Profile: DIY Network

KNOXVILLE: DIY Network is always on the lookout for new spins on the home-improvement genre, according to its programming VP.

ON THE RECORD: ANDY SINGER, VP, PROGRAMMING

How do you schedule the channel from morning through late night, Monday through Sunday?
Because DIY Network is home improvement television, many of the shows that air in prime time also air during the day. Exactly which shows and the order in which we broadcast them is usually the variable that changes based on the existing audience. As the evening gets later, while still staying in our genre, we definitely tend to air programs that lean a little more towards entertainment since that seems to be what audiences like to watch. Weekend morning and afternoons are highly successful dayparts for DIY Network. Since weekends days are typically times where homeowners are thinking about their own projects, we see a lot of success with airing project-oriented programming during this time period.

Are you acquiring content from the international market?
We typically do not.

Are you buying second-run content from within the U.S.?
We do not purchase many acquisitions, but if it fits within the home-improvement genre, we will consider it.

What is your approach to commissioning new productions from U.S. producers?
We continually take pitches from those companies we have worked with and from new producers. Typically programs with clean, simple themes in our genre do very well for us. However, we like when producers are able to come up with new twists on old ideas. In terms of program orders, we usually start with small orders and rapidly expand those orders if we believe a series will be successful.

Do you have any blocks or slots you are looking to fill?
We are always looking for expert-talent. In addition, we continue to look for new ways to do home transformations, home-improvement themed programs or docu-soaps within the home-improvement category.