The premiere of 'Chasing the West' featuring Drew and Jonathan Scott, comes at a sensitive time for HGTV viewers. The cancellation of series like 'Bargain Block' (whose cancellation was revealed by Keith Bynum), 'Married to Real Estate' (announced by Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson), 'Izzy Does It' (revealed by Izzy Battres), and 'Farmhouse Fixer' (announced by Jonathan Knight) has created a wave of disappointment among fans.
'Chasing the West' will follow the Scott brothers as they help families transition from urban and suburban life to ranch life. While the premise aims to offer something new, many viewers feel that the Property Brothers already have a significant presence on HGTV, with numerous spin-offs including 'Brother vs. Brother', 'Celebrity IOU', and 'Property Brothers: Forever Home'.
Online forums, like Reddit, show a vocal segment of HGTV viewers expressing frustration. Some users have stated they are 'out' and feel that HGTV is 'shoving this down our throats' by continuing to add more Scott brothers shows while cutting other quality programs. Others argue that the Property Brothers' format has become stale and repetitive.
It's worth noting that the timing of these events may be coincidental. Some fans have speculated that 'Chasing the West' was already filmed and ready to air before the cancellations were decided. Regardless, the backlash suggests that HGTV needs to carefully consider its programming mix to avoid alienating its audience.