New Raft of European Deals for Optomen

LONDON: Optomen International has locked in a slate of deals with three major broadcasters and two DVD distributors for titles such as The F Word, featuring chef Gordon Ramsay.

Finland’s MTV has licensed a package deal of programming that includes the latest season of The F Word, which has now been sold into more than 45 territories. In each show, Ramsay and his team of amateur chefs prepare a three course meal for 50 diners. Each wannabe chef is out to prove that they have got the skills and strength of character to deliver under the pressure of a busy restaurant service.

MTV also relicensed the first two seasons of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, which see Ramsay taking his taking his tough-love tactics to some of the U.K.’s scariest kitchens, plus the latest season of Kitchen Nightmares USA, which follows Ramsay as he heads stateside to look into some of the country’s most appalling kitchens.

Viasat also licensed Kitchen Nightmares USA for TV3 in Norway and Denmark, while SBS in Belgium licensed a further season of Kitchen Nightmares USA and relicensed the first three seasons of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

In Sweden, Baluba optioned the format for Cookalong Live, which saw Ramsay performing the first-ever live nationwide cookery master-class, inviting viewers to cook along with him.

Netherlands DVD distributor Just Entertainment licensed the rights to release five Optomen shows. This includes the release of French Leave, which sees chef John Burton Race leave his London restaurant to spend a year in France with his family; What To Eat Now, following chef and culinary explorer Valentine Warner as he embarks on a journey through the best of British food; and Two Fat Ladies, in which the flamboyant Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright tour Britain on a motorcycle and sidecar, in a quest to rediscover the delights of traditional home cooking. Also due to be released by Just are The F Word and Cookalong Live.

Meanwhile, Finnish DVD distributor Oy Future Film licensed the first three seasons of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Caroline Stephenson, the head of sales at Optomen International, said of the deals: “Europe remains a very strong market for our programming both for broadcasters and DVD distributors. We’re very pleased that business is as brisk as usual with no sign of a let-up.”