MasterChef Singapore Set for Mediacorp’s Channel 5

The Singaporean version of MasterChef will air in English on Mediacorp’s Channel 5 rather than in Mandarin on Channel 8 after further negotiations with Endemol Shine Group.

The English-language rights to MasterChef Singapore were previously unavailable, Mediacorp said in a statement, so the show was initially set to air on the Mandarin-language service Channel 8.

“We are excited to be working with Endemol Shine Group to bring the MasterChef format to Singapore for the very first time,” said Steven Murphy, managing director of Motion Content Group, Asia Pacific, which acquired the rights to the hit cooking format. “Since the casting call went out in February, we have been impressed by the high levels of interest and passion from the public. We look forward to meeting the best amateur chefs Singapore has to offer.”

Parminder Singh, chief commercial and digital officer at Mediacorp, noted, “People love watching our food shows—a whole variety of them with unique flavors and cooking inspirations—on our different channels. MasterChef has clearly struck a chord with many and we are delighted to be able to premiere it on 5, the channel that brings people in Singapore together, as well as Toggle, our digital entertainment service.”

Beach House Pictures is producing the local adaptation for launch on Mediacorp later this year.