The life-style channel from the Christian couple is now looking at a staggered roll out: first on streaming, then on cable television.
The coronavirus sure has done a number on plans for the Magnolia Network. That partnership project between Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines and Discovery was initially scheduled to replace Discovery's DIY network in October, 2020. Virus-related postponement of production of the new channel's shows, however, bumped the launch to this year.
Now, according to the entertainment publication Variety, Magnolia Network won't take over DIY's cable TV roster spot until January, 2022. The silver lining is that the new network, which will include a reboot of Fixer Upper hosted by Chip and Joanna, will launch on the Discovery Plus streaming service on July 15th of this year.
The Gaineses acknowledge in a written statement to Variety that because of the pandemic, their "plan has evolved along the way," but add that the "original vision for this network has remained the same."
"It is our ongoing desire to create a space, whether in a streaming environment, or on linear television, where people who watch a show on our network leave feeling like it was time well spent."
And in addition to the aforementioned revival of Fixer Upper - which is called Fixer Upper: Welcome Home - the new network will also feature a cooking show hosted by Joanna Gaines entitled Magnolia Table, several episodes of which have already been released on Discovery Plus. There will also be lots of other shows hosted by or featuring other on-camera talent.
If you have interest in checking out the streaming service, a free trial is available. You can find out more via this link to Discovery Plus; if you like it, monthly subscriptions start a $4.99.