Chip and Joanna launch new Waco-based TV network

Chip and Joanna Gaines, who became household favorites through their locally produced show “Fixer Upper” are launching a new TV network that will be based in Waco and Knoxville, Tenn.

Their company, Magnolia, and Discovery, Inc., announced the joint venture Wednesday.

They say it will include a TV network that will replace Discovery’s DIY Network and an app that will be unveiled next summer and a subscription streaming service that will be rolled out at a later date.

“Our intention with this network is to create and curate content that inspires, encourages, and helps to build bridges across our communities. We want honest, authentic programming that brings families together,” the Gaines said in a joint statement.

“We believe (Discovery CEO) David Zaslav and the team at Discovery are the perfect partners for this ambitious joint venture, and we know Allison Page is the right person to lead this charge. We're ready to get started and are expectant for all that's ahead.”

The Gaines will serve as the new network’s chief creative officers and HGTV President Allison Page will serve as president.

“Chip and Joanna Gaines have become trusted, household names since the debut of “Fixer Upper” and through this joint venture, Discovery is proud to extend our relationship with them,” Zaslav said.

“They’ve got authenticity and relatability, that special something that is so difficult in our business to find. People love them, their taste, their businesses – they’ve built an ecosystem that aligns perfectly with our vision at Discovery for fueling people’s passions.”

Discovery’s DIY Network, which reaches 52 million homes in the U.S., will be renamed next summer, although the name has yet to be determined, and will feature long-form programming centering on such topics as community, home, garden, food, wellness and design.

The network will also become home to the complete library of episodes of “Fixer Upper,” from the shows debut in May 2013 until the final episode on April 3, 2018.

The series made the Gaines true celebrities and helped put Waco on the map, serving as a catalyst for an explosion of growth and development in the downtown area.