I LOVE HGTV and really wanted to like the DIY network but I find that some of the shows blaring metal music has me rushing for the mute button, or changing the channel. I know I'm not alone in this because a group of customers were commenting on this same DIY show issue at our furniture store yesterday. Between the annoying blaring music and the host practically screaming his lines, some shows are simply unwatchable, which is unfortunate because the topics are interesting. No offense intended, just wanted to let you know.

We are truly sorry to hear that you have trouble hearing the dialogue on our network because of the music playing in the background. As with most television shows, the music is not intended to replicate real life, but instead to enhance the viewing experience -- not distract from it. At Scripps Networks we have a wonderful music department that is responsible for creating the music for many of our shows, including the intros and closings and the music you hear during the show itself.

Your comments regarding the background music will be forwarded to our music department as feedback and consideration.

quote:

Originally posted by HNSInteriors:
...some of the shows blaring metal music has me rushing for the mute button

I LOL'd! I had Yard Crashers on one day and my daughter walks in and says "Mom, what are you watching, a Monster Truck Rally?"!

What I do now is if a show looks interesting but the music is intolerably awful, like a number of them are, I record the show on my dvr and then fast forward to the reveal at the end.

I joined this board to say exactly what the two of you have put so nicely; the music is unbearable. This isn't MTV. And...the camera work is almost as bad. I swear that the producers from Jersey Shore are making all of your programs. NOBODY likes the unsteady cam with the quick zoom in/out...in/out...in/out...gag. Enough!!

quote:

Originally posted by Katy D:
We are truly sorry to hear that you have trouble hearing the dialogue

Hi Katy D, Thank you for your response. I feel I need to clarify my original post. I don’t have any problem “hearing” the show’s dialogue as you said, and certainly nothing on these shows need be louder. It’s the show’s music which is the turn off (no pun intended). The music is so bad, blaring and awful it literally forces me to mute the show or change the channel.

I grew up on rock music and I love it...good rock music, which this is not. It really is amateur, annoying, grating, and certainly not anything I would listen to in my car, and definitely not anything I would have on in my home when we’re cooking, conversing,...or watching tv. The music is, as the previous poster said, “unbearable”.

I’m was glad to read that I am not the only person who cares enough about the success of DIY to comment. And actually it’s not just DIY with the bad music. HGTV has some shows, with a totally different style of music from DIY, but it becomes equally as annoying because they play the same music loop over and over and overandoverandover until its like fingernails on a chalkboard and I’m screaming “Somebody fix the broken record!” while I give up and go for the mute button. Designers Challenge comes to mind, some of Sarah Richardson’s shows, and others. It’s especially disheartening on Sarah Richardson’s shows because I adore Tommy and hate having to miss anything he says because he is so witty and clever. But when the relentless broken record refrain starts the only relief to viewers is to mute or change the channel.

Thank you again for responding and I hope I’ve cleared up any misperceptions.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HNSInteriors,

The sound is fine. The music/blaring drums or whatever is playing in the background is terrible. I also mute the show or go to another channel. It's very hard to hear the dialogue. I also grew up with rock music, went to many loud concerts, and like to listen to music. There is a disconnect between the actual show and the background sound. It's not necessary -- it detracts from the show which is very entertaining and informative. By typing in certain keywords I found that I am not alone. Also I frequently have company over at my house and we love to watch home improvement shows. We all hate the sounds in the background. Why have drums beating loudly? Makes no sense whatsoever! Whoever is in charge of the 'music' department should listen to other shows on tv to get an idea of what is appealing to the listener. Please change the current status of your background sounds. Thank you.

I have e-mailed DIY previously about this annoying fill-in music (I still think than an editor has a nephew with a garage band that can only do really bad guitar riffs). It isn't a matter of not being able to hear the dialogue, it's a matter of this very loud, irritating music coming on at every 1 second gap in the narration! It's like the editors think the viewers need sound every second of the show or we'll wander off not realizing the show is still on! Then to give that canned response to the viewer not being able to hear the dialogue, that just confirms they aren't reading their feedback! I've quit watching anything with "Crashers" in it but now they're doing it to Holmes on Homes too (Mike, you really need to take control of your show)! The first time I hear that music on any show, I turn the channel - I wish others would too then the producers and editors might pay attention to this!

Thank you Katy D. for trying to succeed at lowering or removing the LOUD music. Will you be able to get Josh Temple to quit his screaming? I agree that his program is good, but not the nonsense and the noise. My solution is to see the first and last part of each episode, skipping the ruckus.

This problem is rampant on multiple networks. I also grew up on and love rock music. But 1)rock music is not the most appropriate music for many or most of these shows and 2)this is not rock music. It is a noisy, pointless, irritating, annoying, invasive assault on the ears. I honestly don't understand the rationale for using what sounds like the same 20-second loop of grinding, loud, unmusical electric guitar on virtually every DIY show on TV, not to mention the various auction and even cooking shows. I want very much to watch these shows. Why does someone insist on making it something that I just can't take any more?