MIPCOM 2010 – CANNES. One year after launching its first channel outside the US, Scripps Networks International is now distributing two brands, Food Network and Fine Living Network, through six feeds to 60 countries in eight languages across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The channels are available in over 15 million television households worldwide.
“It was at MIPCOM last year that we announced our intention to begin channel businesses alongside the existing program syndication in the global market,” said Greg Moyer, president of Scripps Networks International. “This year we can look back with pride at the progress we’ve made, and we know we have just begun to introduce the power of Scripps lifestyle brands to audiences worldwide. Launched In November 2009, Food Network UK has proven to be Sky’s most successful lifestyle channel launch in the past four years and was awarded Best Lifestyle Channel by Freesat in June where the judging panel described it as ‘a real trailblazer for themed programming in the UK’.”
Food Network UK has doubled its average viewing audience since the start of 2010 making the network the most successful channel in terms of competitive ranking improvements in Sky homes, according to Moyer. Food Network UK is one of only 30 channels (out of almost 200 measured stations) attracting more than half a million viewers every week and is the third most viewed Lifestyle channel for female viewers in Sky homes.
Since 2009, Food Network has expanded across EMEA with launches in Belgium, Netherlands and Cyprus bringing the number of territories covered to 29.
In May, Food Network announced a HD feed across EMEA, launching in the Middle East and North Africa. A SD feed of Food Network is currently available in more than 10 million EMEA households. Fine Living Network (FLN) launched across EMEA in April.
“We’re putting many of our most popular series from the US on FLN,” said Mary Ellen Iwata, VP, programming, Scripps Networks International. “Effectively, Fine Living Network is becoming the best of Scripps lifestyle television worldwide.”
At the same time, Food Network Asia is expanding its footprint with launches in Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia in the last four months. Viewers are watching a channel compiled in Asia and broadcast in both SD and HD.
Food Network UK and Food Network EMEA, along with FLN, are operated as a joint venture with Chello Zone, a leading international broadcaster and distributor of thematic channels across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Food Network Asia is solely owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive.
