Food Network Heads to Middle East

LONDON: Food Network is continuing its international rollout with a launch on February 1 on Orbit Showtime Network (OSN), which will broadcast the channel across the Middle East with Arabic subtitles.

The Middle East launch follows Food Network’s November debut in the U.K., where it’s currently available to 9 million households. The channel’s international rollout in select markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa is led by a joint venture created last year between Scripps Networks Interactive and ChelloZone. Food Network is the first new channel to launch on OSN since Orbit’s merger with Showtime last July.

“The introduction of Food Network to viewers in the Middle East is another major step in our developing international expansion strategy,” said Greg Moyer, the president of Scripps Networks International, the international development division of Scripps Networks Interactive. “Orbit Showtime is a great distribution partner for Food Network and we look forward to working closely with them as we capitalize on the universal appeal of food programming and grow this business.”

Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, the CEO of Orbit Showtime Network, added, “We are extremely pleased with launching Food Network on OSN as part of our 75 channel platform. Food programming is among the most popular in the region and I am confident that viewers will enjoy this new and dedicated cuisine channel.”