TV with Thinus: Kathleen Finch

Showing posts with label Kathleen Finch. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Executives press conference - HGTV's surprising answer on design trend-spotting and staying ahead of the curve with what viewers want to see next.

Who knew that tiny homes would become a thing? HGTV.

By perpetually being on the cutting edge of the latest trends in television programming, spotting them, adjusting, and incorporating them, America's home and garden channel has itself bucked the trend in a pay-TV world marked by sliding viewership and so-called "cord-cutting".

With its finger constantly on the pulse of what viewers want to see and rolling out content about whatever is next while at the same time staying true to tried-and-tested home design and renovation content, Discovery Inc.'s HGTV (DStv 177) has kept growing and adding viewers (or "fans" as HGTV calls them).

HGTV has continued its viewership expansion to become the third most-watched channel in all of pay-TV in the United States.

MultiChoice just added Discovery Inc.'s HGTV (DStv 177) for DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers and for that Discovery Inc. held a HGTV press conference at the Table Bay hotel in Cape Town.

Kathleen Finch, Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer, was one of the TV executive panellists on the afternoon of Day 2 of the 3-day press tour for the channel's launch in South Africa.

TVwithThinus asked her how HGTV as an aspirational TV channel determines what the trends are and will be, for instance the "tiny house" movement for which HGTV just "suddenly" had shows ready, and how HGTV executives trend-analyse before being able to programme according to that.

"Well, we don't do it before we programme," explained Kathleen Finch in her surprising answer.

"What we really like to do is - because we make 800 hours of new content a year, we cover everything - so, we do modern programming, we do country chic, we do farmhouse chic. We do all these different styles. Big homes, little homes, mega-mansions, tiny homes."

"We have so much content and every talent that we bring, bring their expertise. So we don't just want to hire designers who will have the 'HGTV look' because there is no 'HGTV look'. It's personal. And it's a real reflection of the different talent that we have and we try to personalise it so that the viewers can take an idea from here, a trend from there," said Kathleen Finch.

"We don't dictate, we don't want to dictate, because it's a personal decision. Instead, we want to make sure that we have people who are at the top of their field who talk about trends, who reflect trends, but they empower viewers to do what they want and to make their own decisions."

"I think trying to spot trends is sort of a dangerous business because it's a trend today and it's gone tomorrow."

"Instead, what our goal at HGTV really is, is to inspire and to encourage viewers to find their style and to take from our channel and our experts what they can do to translate their style to their own home - as opposed to going 'okay, from now on every appliance is stainless steel, that's the new thing'. We don't do that."

"We let you decide by sharing a little bit of everything," said Kathleen Finch.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Lee Hobbs, Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for EMEA, says HGTV channel will bring 'loads of new and unseen content' to South Africa.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Tarek El Moussa, the star of Flip or Flop on HGTV says it's 'a magical channel about real people working on real houses' and reveals what home means to him.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Announcing Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa and a new teaser trailer.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Executives press conference opening remarks: 'HGTV is going to be both inspirational and aspirational'.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Executives press conference: Ads on HGTV won't get in viewers' way, instead it will add to the viewing experience.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: MultiChoice on why it decided to make HGTV available to DStv Compact subscribers as well: 'The content speaks to everybody'.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: HGTV in HD - why MultiChoice launched Discovery Inc.'s latest channel in high definition on DStv and the factors influencing what quality version a TV channel is launched and seen as.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Will Discovery Inc.'s latest channel have local content? MultiChoice explains how it works with international third-party TV channels.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Press conference - Why Discovery Inc. launched it so quickly in South Africa after acquiring Scripps and Africa's growing importance as a pay-TV market among global content suppliers.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: INTERVIEW - Flip or Flop star Tarek El Moussa: 'I feel like I have a very intimate relationship with HGTV because I feel like I've grown with them'.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN IMAGES - 20 photos of HGTV's gala rooftop dinner at the Zeitz Museum in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 3: IN IMAGES - 9 photos of the media breakfast and press screening & 4 sizzle reels including a special Home Town surprise message.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 3: IN IMAGES - 8 photos of the Grand Provence media lunch.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch press tour - An overview.

Monday, July 29, 2019

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Executives press conference: Ads on HGTV won't get in viewers' way, instead it will add to the viewing experience.

Discovery Inc. says that TV commercials on its new HGTV (DStv 177) channel in South Africa that was launched on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service won't get in the way of viewers watching shows but that ads placed in and during programming will actually add to the viewer experience, showing them what products and services are available to create what they're looking at on their TV screens.

Discovery Inc. held an executive press conference for the media, with Discovery Inc. executives and MultiChoice's content boss who attended. They took a wide range of questions during the afternoon of Day 2 of Discovery Inc.'s 3-day press tour for the launch of its new HGTV (DStv 177) channel in South Africa.

HGTV was added on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa for DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

At the press conference held at the Table Bay hotel in Cape Town, Amanda Turnbull (vice president and general manager at Discovery Inc. for the Africa and Middle East region) said that HGTV already has South African advertisers who jumped at the opportunity to be involved with HGTV and to be seen on the home and garden TV channel.

"Normally in this market you need to have the ratings first and then you can sell."

"But what we've done this time round is put together what we call 'pioneer packages'. So we've got 5 partner advertisers who've come straight on with us on HGTV - Dulux, which is truly a great one, OUTsurance, the tile company CTM, HomeBid and then interestingly South African Tourism," said Amanda Turnbull.

"The point with HGTV is - clearly it's a great space for endemic advertising. We're learning from Kathleen Finch (Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer), in terms of global best practice, is the idea of 'let's create something special for the advertiser'. We're not that interested in 30-second spots - clearly there will be some - but we are more interested in saying 'Okay, what can we put together for our advertising partners' because when you're watching HGTV, you actually want to know about these products because you're in the market for that."

"It's all part of this 'information exchange' - that's what makes it so nice," said Amanda Turnbull.

"I think that rather than the ads getting in the way, these ads viewers see as an add to their experience. That's why we want to work with our advertisers to create content that will work."

Kathleen Finch said "the other thing that makes it such an interesting proposition for our advertising clients is that all of our talent are experts. We don't have actors, we don't take someone who was a comedian last week and now he's a home improvement expert. They're all experts."

"So to put those experts together with a brand it adds credibility, it adds authenticity, and brands will often pay a premium to be involved with this expert talent and it really does work for both sides of the equation."

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Lee Hobbs, Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for EMEA, says HGTV channel will bring 'loads of new and unseen content' to South Africa.

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Executives press conference opening remarks: 'HGTV is going to be both inspirational and aspirational'.

Left to right: Aletta Alberts, Kathleen Finch, Amanda Turnbull

Discovery Inc.'s new HGTV channel in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service will be both inspirational and aspirational, said Discovery Inc. and MultiChoice executives in their opening remarks at the HGTV press conference.

Discovery Inc. held an executive press conference for the media, with Discovery Inc. executives and MultiChoice's content boss who attended and who took a wide range of questions during the afternoon of Day 2 of Discovery Inc.'s 3-day press tour for the launch of its new HGTV (DStv 177) channel in South Africa.

HGTV was added on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa for DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

Held at the Table Bay hotel in Cape Town where Discovery Inc. executives, as well as the media from across South Africa and the Middle East, stayed for the press tour, the always wonderful Lee Hobbs (Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region) served as moderator.

Fielding questions from the press were the extremely capable and experienced, well-versed and knowledgeable TV executives (and an all-women panel!) Aletta Alberts (MultiChoice's head of content strategy), Kathleen Finch (Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer), Amanda Turnbull (vice president and general manager at Discovery Inc. for the Africa and Middle East region) and Tatiana Lagewaard (vice president of lifestyle and pay-TV production for the EMEA region).

Amanda Turnbull in her opening remarks said "We are delighted to bring HGTV here. We have such a huge channels portfolio (here) already. I think it's really important how we make sure that this portfolio is complementary because we need to cycle viewers around TLC, ID, Food Network and now HGTV".

"In theory, it's the same sort of demographic but in reality it's all slightly different. We're going to get very targeted. We're going to think about the daypart strategy, but the idea is with us, with our networks it is all about real-life entertainment."

"So if you like real television - and in this South African market everybody watches an enormous amount of TV - you want a trade-off. If you give your time to TV you want something tangible back in return and that's what we do. That's why people really love us."

"Specifically with HGTV, it's going to be both inspirational and aspirational," said Amanda Turnbull.

"We will give people ideas that they can potentially use, but at the same time it is entertainment and it's inspiring. It's also real people. There's always a sense of jeopardy. Will this person make it? So that's what we want to bring into the portfolio. It's going to be more great stuff."

Aletta Alberts in her opening remarks said "I think HGTV is a great brand because it's the one thing we were missing, home and garden - especially garden. People are very interested in gardening and they often ask us for gardening programmes".

"The most important thing for me is how you can migrate audiences within these brands now, because you can cross-promote, and that for me is the great thing. You don't have to lose the audience, they can stay there within the cluster," said Aletta Alberts.

"What is really, really amazing is that we see demographics that you would not expect on these channels - kids for instance. So all of a sudden they get very involved in this and we would see the kids genre losing audience and going to channels like TLC and makeover type shows which is really interesting".

Kathleen Finch, in America described as the "Queen of cable TV", in her opening remarks said "HGTV is real people, doing real things. A lot of our shows appeal to the entire family because you watch it and an interesting process unfolds".

"It's a cool before-and-after makeover, its tools, its paint, it's people moving in and out, it's earthmovers putting trees in. So HGTV is fun to watch as a family, it's very family-friendly which is something that's very important to us."

"We take great pride in the fact that your 5-year old can come into the room while mom is watching and you never have to change the channel. Ever. We're so proud of the quality of our content. HGTV teaches you, it inspires you, it never offends you. And all of our shows have a wonderful, happy ending and that's on purpose," said Kathleen Finch.

"We know that our target audience - which is a working mom - she's been working all day, she comes home, she makes dinner for her family, and she sits down and it's her time, and she wants to relax with something that is going to entertain her but it's also going to teach her something."

"We've also opened it up so much that she's watching but her husband walks into the room - he's sees something interesting, and he watches as well. So we created this really robust family viewing opportunity for people and you can watch it without any guilt because you are learning something. But you also love to see the story unfold with an ending that sometimes surprises you, but it always makes you feel good."

Tatiana Lagewaard in her opening remarks said "what's really important is that we worked really closely with Kathleen Finch and her team in the United States, because firstly they have so much experience of the brand and they know all the in's and out's with all of the data they have from viewers already".

"So we worked really closely with them to work out the schedule that really caters to the viewer. We have marathons where people can binge-watch and where they can stay on HGTV for hours and we also have themed nights, so we make it easy for viewers for instance on Mondays it's a certain type of shows, on Sundays it's another type of shows".

"We make it really easy for viewers to recognise what content they can see on HGTV on what night."

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Lee Hobbs, Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for EMEA, says HGTV channel will bring 'loads of new and unseen content' to South Africa.

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: MultiChoice's content boss Aletta Alberts says Discovery Inc.'s new HGTV channel will do well on DStv because 'HGTV fits so well with South African consumer culture'.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's content boss, says she believes that Discovery Inc.'s new HGTV (DStv 177) that was just added to MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV service in South Africa will resonate very strongly with local viewers since HGTV's channel proposition fits in very well with South African consumer culture.

Discovery Inc.'s HGTV channel has been added in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service for DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, and DStv Compact subscribers.

Aletta Alberts flew to Cape Town, South Africa, for the official South African media launch event of the HGTV channel, where she addressed the press during the official presentation. She also did a press conference session with the media later during the afternoon.

"I think HGTV is just going to go from strength to strength. We're so happy to welcome HGTV on DStv," said Aletta Alberts during the official presentation.

Discovery Inc. now has 8 TV channels on MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV platform.

"When we go and do - we are like this horrible people, we do 'channel reviews' for those of you who don't know, a 'horror of horror' for everybody - but it's actually just a good way of making channels even better, bringing the repeat rates down; and we're very happy that there's so much new content on HGTV," joked Aletta Alberts.

"Having said all of that, you know that at DStv our big aim in life is to be the most-loved, number one African storyteller on the continent while we still bring the best home. I think HGTV is an absolute example of that."

"HGTV is the number one pay-TV channel in the United States and I've got no doubt that HGTV will within weeks be the number one channel on our platform - not only I think in the lifestyle channels section but I see this as a complementary channel in every single DStv bouquet where we're going to put it."

"HGTV has to deliver for us because we know there's a huge amount of viewing time spent in this territory," said Aletta Alberts.

"When I look at HGTV it's just so visually spectacular. Really Kathleen Finch (Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer) you've done a fantastic job on this channel. HGTV fits so well with South African consumer culture."

"Whether it's a very expensive home or something humble, it doesn't mean it has to be a R20 million house for it to look amazing. We all know as Africans we are incredibly creative. So while some of the shows might seem familiar because it has been licensed to other channels before, you will not see any old seasons of any of those shows on HGTV, it will all be the latest and the greatest."

"It's 800 new hours a year which is phenomenal for a channel like this - a very rich entertainment channel; most channels don't have this amount of hours. Therefore we know this is going to be just incredible and viewers are going to love HGTV," said Aletta Alberts.

"This is what makes people dream and save up. We know when we go out shopping on Saturdays you see lots of people buying DIY things. It's really become such a big part of our culture."

"From MultiChoice and DStv to everybody at HGTV, thank you for being a part of our vision to be Africa's number one entertainment platform and thank you for giving us this incredible, real characters."

"That is what Discovery Networks is really known for. When you go to their upfronts and you meet the people who are presenters or cast, these are real people - people with real businesses. And whether it's Honey Boo Boo or Deadliest Catch or Buddy Valastro of Cake Boss, what you see on screen is exactly who they are and that's why they're so successful," said Aletta Alberts.

"So as I always say, especially to my friends in the media, if they do it well, write about that. Tell everybody. Post on social media because we want to tell people. We want you to recommend it to your friends and everyone who might be interested in this channel."

"But also if we do things that you think we don't do well, also tell us, because ultimately for us it's all about the customer and we need to make sure that the customers get the best value, and launching HGTV I really, really think they're going to get great value."

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Lee Hobbs, Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for EMEA, says HGTV channel will bring 'loads of new and unseen content' to South Africa.

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Announcing Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa and a new teaser trailer.

Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer, Kathleen Finch, used the South African media launch event of its HGTV (DStv 177) channel in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service to announce that HGTV has commissioned a new spin-off show, Flipping 101, with Tarek El Moussa, and showed a teaser trailer for it.

Kathleen Finch flew to Cape Town, South Africa, from the United States, for the official South African media launch event of the HGTV channel, where she addressed the press.

"This is new news, just for you guys - we are bringing a familiar face back in a brand-new format. Tarek El Moussa who's joining us today and who fans have come to love as the star of the huge hit, Flip or Flop, has a brand-new show, doing what he does best, which is sharing his expertise with other hopeful house-flippers," said Kathleen Finch.

"Here's the first-ever look at Flipping 101" said Kathleen Finch, after which the teaser trailer was played:

In Flipping 101 Tarek El Moussa will mentor real estate novices to help them learn the secrets of successfully buying properties to renovate to sell at a profit, a process called "flipping".

With hundreds of profitable sales under his belt, HGTV says that Tarek El Moussa is ready to lend his invaluable expertise to those who want to win big in the competitive real estate game in the new 14-episode series that is scheduled to start on HGTV in 2020.

"My passion for real estate has led me to flip hundreds of homes over the years and I've been incredibly lucky as an entrepreneur to build a successful business," says Tarek El Moussa.

"Now I get to help first-time flippers learn the ropes, find the best property deals and show them how to make the most profit on their investment."

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Lee Hobbs, Discovery Inc.'s global brands boss for EMEA, says HGTV channel will bring 'loads of new and unseen content' to South Africa.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer Kathleen Finch says HGTV 'is a channel tailor-made for people who love their homes - and there are a lot of those people'.

Discovery Inc.'s chief lifestyle brands officer, Kathleen Finch, says the new HGTV channel that launched in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service is "a channel that is tailor-made for people who love their homes - and there are a lot of those people".

Kathleen Finch flew to Cape Town, South Africa, from the United States, for the official South African media launch event of the HGTV channel, where she addressed the press.

"The premise of HGTV is really simple - home and garden television. It's a channel that is tailor-made for people who love their homes - and there are a lot of those people."

"In the United States where HGTV began 25 years ago, it's the 6th most-distributed pay-TV channel, and it's the number 1 non-news channel in all of pay-TV. So, on most nights, out of more than 100 pay-TV channels, HGTV ranks number 3 behind only two competing 24-hour TV news channels."

"HGTV is the number 1 channel among upscale women, and it has been for almost 13 years straight, and we're incredibly proud of that because we know how hard to reach that upscale audience is to reach for our ad sales partners."

"When we poll viewers HGTV is in the top of viewers' must-keep lists."

"HGTV's audience is really the envy of the television business in the United States. Our viewers are among the most upscale - which makes sense since most of them own their own home - we skew more female than male but we definitely have a lot of husbands who watch along with their wives."

"Our viewers tend to be a little bit older, which is another thing that comes with wealth and home-ownership. HGTV has an extremely large audience share."

"The reason HGTV's viewers come in such large numbers is because of our great content. HGTV produces almost 800 original hours a year, plus we have thousands of episodes of quality content in our library and ready to be shared with new audiences," said Kathleen Finch.

"We've also got great expert talent hosting all of our HGTV shows - big hits like Hidden Potential with Jasmine Roth, Good Bones with mother-daughter duo Karen and Mina, Unspouse My House with Orlando Soria, and My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromstad where we follow lottery winners as they buy their first big house."

"I know South African fans are going to love HGTV and I look forward to finding ways to partner together to help all of our businesses grow."

HGTV then showed a promo sizzle reel about some of the various programming on the channel:

ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: HGTV DStv channel launch Day 2: IN PICTURES - 29 photos of HGTV's official South African media launch event presentation.

HGTV DStv channel launch Day 1: IN PICTURES - 37 photos of HGTV's beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.

Discovery Inc. held a media launch for its new HGTV (DStv 177) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa in the form of a 3-day press tour in Cape Town that kicked off with a beautiful cocktail party at sunset at the infinity pool of a multi-storey Upper Clifton mansion in Cape Town.

The Cape Town based events solution company Show Works conceptualised and executed Discovery Inc.'s incredibly beautiful, unique and extremely impressive HGTV cocktail party on the Day 1 evening of the HGTV media launch week.

The cocktail party took place at Villa Beyond, the stunning home of the South African architect, Stefan Antoni. The 6-level luxury mansion is suspended over the highest point in Clifton - South Africa's most expensive suburb - and its panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean are some of the very best in Cape Town.

Discovery Inc. executives who jetted to Cape Town from the United States, Dubai and Amsterdam, mingled with the South African and Middle East media, as well as advertisers and ad execs, alongside MultiChoice executives, sipping champagne and nibbling on the light supper on offer as everyone watched a magnificent winter sunset.

High-ranking Discovery Inc. executives included Amanda Turnbull (vice president and general manager at Discovery Inc. for the Africa and Middle East region), Kathleen Finch (Discovery's chief lifestyle brands officer), Lee Hobbs (senior vice president for pay-TV and global brands for the EMEA region), Tatiana Lagewaard (vice president of lifestyle and pay-TV production for the EMEA region), and Henry Windridge (head of brand at Discovery Inc. for the Africa and Middle East region).

High-ranking MultiChoice executives who attended the cocktail party included Yolisa Phahle (MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment), Mark Rayner (MultiChoice South Africa CEO), Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee (CEO of DStv Media Sales), and Aletta Alberts (MultiChoice head of content strategy).

Also in attendance were Stefan Antoni himself, as well as the American TV talent Tarek El Moussa of HGTV's Flip or Flop who flew to Cape Town for the media launch.

The beautifully executed HGTV cocktail evening set the perfect tone for the channel's launch.

"We're incredibly proud and excited to launch HGTV in this market," said Amanda Turbull.

"I must say Stefan, thank you so much. I don't think we could have chosen a more perfect venue to start the HGTV channel launch than this wonderful, wonderful house. It's a wonderful way to start the channel here."

"This has really been a great journey for us to bring HGTV to the South African market. It's one of the first international channel launches since the acquisition of Scripps. We're very proud that our South African partner, MultiChoice, can be part of that journey with us," said Amanda Turnbull.