FME Grows Reach of Jamie Oliver Titles

CANNES: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has scored a five-year deal with Fox International Channels that sees the recently launched Dutch channel 24Kitchen become the new home for Jamie Oliver shows, while a separate deal sees a package of titles featuring the celebrity chef airing on the new German free-to-air channel sixx.

24Kitchen, dedicated to all things food, is a joint initiative of Fox Channels Benelux and Jan Dekker Holding. The service is available to more than 3 million Dutch digital basic subscribers. 24Kitchen will air series such as Jamie’s Great Britain. Also as part of the deal, 24Kitchen will feature FME’s Anthony Bourdain, Annabel Langbein, Donna Hay and Bill Grainger titles.

Richard Tulk-Hart, FME’s VP of sales and distribution (Benelux, Malta, Sub Saharan Africa & Cyprus) and home entertainment (EMEA), commented, “Jamie Oliver is loved the world over for his inspirational approach to cooking and his enthusiasm for good food. He has a huge following in the Netherlands and 24Kitchen is the perfect new home for his titles, giving viewers the chance to watch both brand new series and catch up on past favorites.”

Moreyba Bidessie, who heads up global acquisitions at Fox International Channels, added, “We are hugely pleased to make 24Kitchen Jamie Oliver’s new home in the Netherlands. His entire approach to food and dynamic personality are a great fit with 24Kitchen.”

FME also firmed up a deal with ProSiebenSat.1 for a package of Jamie Oliver titles for the new channel sixx. The female-skewed network will broadcast series such as Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, Jamie’s Food Escapes and Jamie’s American Road Trip. Further titles include Jamie’s Family Christmas and Jamie at Home.

Maximilian Bolenius, the VP of sales for German-speaking Europe and Central and Eastern Europe at FME, commented, “Jamie Oliver is a huge British talent with mass appeal in Germany; 2011 has been an outstanding year, a local version of the Jamie magazine launched in Spring, the German editions of his book titles, Jamie’s Food Escapes and 30 Minute Meals sell phenomenally well, and his partnership with Scandic Hotels has continued to grow. This is the ideal time for a big free-tv launch of Jamie’s compelling titles on sixx. The shows will sit perfectly on sixx and give his loyal German fans a new place to watch and learn culinary skills.”

Katja Hofem-Best, the managing director of sixx, commented, “Jamie Oliver is the perfect testimonial for our growing Channel. Our viewers love Jamie Oliver and will be happy to watch all of his new culinary-adventures and recipies.”