Chip and Joanna Gaines Don’t Actually Own a Television

updated Oct 12, 2020
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Yes, they may be the king and queen of HGTV, and yes, they are launching their very own television network, the Magnolia Network, but no, Chip and Joanna Gaines do not even own a television.

“We still don’t have a television,” Jo told Fast Company in an October 7 interview. And, in Chip’s opinion, that could be why he and Jo became such popular television personalities, adding, “The secret to good television is finding people who don’t want to be on television.”

But even though they don’t own a physical television (yet, at least), the idea of being able to bring a family together around the television is at the center of the upcoming Magnolia Network.

“You see how everyone watches television now—everyone’s in their own room, on their own device,” Jo continued. “It’s no longer a thing of bringing families together. We got excited about just that idea of getting people back around that television, and being with family, and leaving and being inspired.”

And the idea of finding people who don’t want to be on television in order to make “good television” was exactly how Chip and Jo went about finding their Magnolia Network stars. No casting calls, no auditions, “We just looked around,” Jo said. 

“It’s what they’re doing in real life that drew us to their story. Without the cameras on them, you could see the passion, you could see the drive, the risk. And then when you’re watching, you’re like, ‘Now I want to go do that.’”

Throughout the pandemic, the Gaineses have been sharing preview interviews with those slated to host shows on Magnolia via Instagram since Magnolia Network’s launch date has been pushed back. And if the shows are as good as the previews have been, then everyone who is currently in the same boat as Chip and Jo is going to want to invest in an actual television.