After years of watching Chip and Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper, fans were thrilled to hear that the couple was expanding into their own network. Magnolia Network is still tied to Discovery, but the move meant tons more renovation and house-focused content all curated by the Gaineses themselves.
The question is, how successful has the network become, and what's the next big thing after Fixer Upper?
The Magnolia Network Has A Long List Of Shows
As of May 2023, the Magnolia Network has over 80 shows in its lineup, including a handful of shows that feature Joanna and/or Chip Gaines, then many that stand alone with other stars.
The shows range from typical home renovation series to gardening-specific shows, beach cottage-only offerings, cooking and baking spots (including some of Joanna's own), vintage-focused entertainment, and so much more.
In 2017, immediately after the network launched (and Fixer Upper relaunched at its new home), the network put out a press release that commemorated its launch and initial success.
The release stated that Magnolia Network had 100+ originals in its first year, with another 30 projects in progress at the time.
The network had a ton of growth in its first year, and the launch was aired to three million viewers. It wasn't necessarily surprising, though; the project was a collaboration between the Gaineses and Discovery+.
Magnolia Network is a media joint venture between Chip and Joanna Gaines and Discovery, Inc., comprising a family-friendly library of premium, Emmy-nominated unscripted original content streaming on discovery+, a brand-immersive app and a cable network.
While it's unclear how the profits are split, it's clear that Discovery is able (and probably willing) to throw a ton of money at Magnolia Network, given its past successes.
That said, Magnolia Network has dropped shows from its lineup, but it doesn't generally seem to happen due to ratings. Chip and Joanna Gaines' network dropped Home Work, a show led by Andy and Candis Meredith. Magnolia took complaints about the couple seriously, pulling the show and looking into the issue.
That alone is a positive sign for the Gaineses, who don't always have the approval of locals in the town where they operate.
How Successful Is The Magnolia Network?
The mere existence of the Magnolia Network hints at how successful it is; it's not every day that a husband-wife DIY team nabs their own reality series that then spawns everything from a restaurant to home decor lines to multiple TV series and an entire network of television shows.
Though Chip and Joanna Gaines got their start on HGTV, growing their own empire was at the top of their to-do list. Today, the Magnolia brand is said to be worth $750 million, while the Gaines' "empire" is worth "more than a billion dollars," according to an anonymous source, as quoted by Just Jared.
It's unclear how much of that cash goes into the Gaineses' pockets, or whether they're getting a cut of Magnolia Network's up-front earnings, but either way, the network is worth a lot of money.
Chip and Joanna were also thrilled at how well Magnolia Network's debut echoed their brand sentiments.
The couple was quoted in the press release as saying, "We're so proud of the stories that launched Magnolia Network. The people we've met, who have allowed us to share a piece of their world with you, make it clear that everyday, everywhere, there are creators, path makers, and explorers in bold pursuit of beautiful ambitions. We've just scratched the surface - there are so many stories yet to be told on Magnolia Network, and we can't wait to watch them unfold."
And tell stories they have done—hundreds so far, with no signs of slowing down (or earnings tanking).
No Show Can Match Fixer Upper—Yet
As for the question of which is the top-rated show on Magnolia Network, it depends on the information source. Fans who offered their opinions via reviews on IMDb seem to favor Super Dad, a show that launched in 2021.
Shows like Artfully Designed and From the Source also earned high marks, but in terms of popularity, IMDb has Happy to Be Home with the Benkos at the top of its list. The show premiered in April 2023, and with only six episodes released at the time of review, fans seemed to be loving it.
That may prove the theory that the Benkos, Gray and Mike, are the next big thing on Magnolia Network. Many have compared them to Chip and Joanna Gaines—which might have been the point.
Husband-wife shows can be great for ratings if done well, and with so much experience keeping Fixer Upper at the top of the rating list, Chip and Joanna likely know what it takes to recreate that magic.
Fans will have to continue to tune in to see what's new on Magnolia Network, and decide whether anything can top Fixer Upper.
