COMPETITIVE DRAMA AND GREAT DESIGN TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SECOND SPECTACULAR SEASON OF 'HGTV SHOWDOWN'

The Design Duels Begin on HGTV on Sunday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Knoxville, Tenn. [For Immediate Release-January 5, 2009] - A new battle for design supremacy will rock HGTV when the network premieres the second round of its popular design competition, HGTV Showdown. Featuring the network's top talent, the special four-episode series, premiering Sunday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, will offer viewers ringside seats as HGTV's fiercest designers and builders team up to devise and execute a winning design plan for a lucky homeowner. The participating homeowner will receive $10,000 to recreate the design at home. Hosted by award-winning designer Jamie Durie, the series will air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT through March 1.

Durie will guide viewers through the battle royale by providing blow-by-blow details of each challenge. First, HGTV will create two replicas of the homeowner's design-challenged space--everything from the peeling paint to outdated furniture and threadbare carpeting. Next, two elite design teams, each comprised of one designer and a builder or landscaping expert, will huddle to create and execute their recommended design vision. Using the homeowner's specific criteria for the space, such as eco-friendly or low maintenance materials, or a particular design style, both teams will race to complete a knockout design. When time runs out, not only will the homeowner judge the results and declare a winner, but they also will have the benefit of seeing two potential design options for their space.

To enhance the viewers' experience, Durie, a native Australian renowned for his design talent and environmental work with everyone from Al Gore to the Dalai Lama, will bring his expertise and empathy to the design drama of HGTV Showdown. The design teams also will have a wider array of accessories and d�cor options to choose from during each challenge, while bigger, more elaborate sets will make viewers feel as though they are part of the action.

"Fans who crave competitive drama and enjoy seeing the creative process unfold when designers race against the clock will be captivated by HGTV Showdown," said James Bolosh, vice president, HGTV event programming. "The action, suspense and great design are sure to keep viewers entertained during every episode."

Here is what viewers will see each week on HGTV Showdown:

Sunday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

To kickoff the series' second season, interior designer Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve) and carpenter Carter Oosterhouse (Carter Can) will take on challengers Monica Pedersen (Designed to Sell) and Eric Stromer (Over Your Head) in a designing for the sexes battle for design dominance in a family room.

Sunday, February 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Two Designed to Sell designers will go head-to-head to determine who can create the best master bedroom. Viewers will see whether it's designer John Gidding and carpenter James Lunday (Rip & Renew) or designer Taniya Nayak and carpenter Steve Hanneman (Hammer Heads) who bring their A-game to win the coveted title of best bedroom design.

Sunday, February 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

HGTV will stage the ultimate face-off with a battle of the HGTV Design Stars. Last season's winner, Kim Myles (Myles of Style) and reigning champion, Jennifer Bertrand, will go head-to-head to find out who can create the best kids' play room design. To up the ante, HGTV Design Star runners-up Matt Locke (Team Kim) and Todd Davis (Team Jennifer) will assist the designers as they pull out all the stops to create dazzling, kid-friendly spaces.

Sunday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Rounding out the four-episode series is the battle of the landscapers. Designer Frank Fontana (Design on a Dime) teams up with landscaper Gary Gragg (Landscape Smart) to challenge Lauren Lake (Spice Up My Kitchen) and her teammate, carpenter Chip Wade (Designed to Sell), to determine who can deliver the design with the most curb appeal.

About HGTV

HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 95 million U.S. households and is one of cable's top-rated networks. HGTV's website, HGTV.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of 5 million unique visitors per month. HGTV owns 33 percent of HGTV Canada and provides much of the Canadian network's daily programming. The network's branded programming also can be seen in 131 territories across all seven continents and its selected programming is available to service men and women on board Navy ships and through American Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS), which services more than 1,000 outlets in over 175 countries. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and San Francisco, HGTV is wholly owned by Scripps Networks, which also operates Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network and Great American Country.