Discovery Inks Multiyear Deal with Ina Garten

Ina Garten, the celebrity chef known as the Barefoot Contessa, has secured an exclusive multiyear deal with Discovery, Inc. to create content across all of the company’s platforms.

The deal expands Garten’s reach beyond her Barefoot Contessa franchise, with projects in the works for streaming, linear and podcasts. Her inaugural project under the deal is the tentatively titled series Be My Guest, which is in development for 2022.

Be My Guest will offer a fresh take on Garten’s signature style of welcoming viewers into her home. The series is structured as a multiplatform project, with three distinct versions: an hour-long extended cut on discovery+, a half hour on Food Network linear and a companion podcast.

Produced by Pacific Productions, Garten’s Barefoot Contessa: Modern Comfort Food kicks off a new season on Food Network on October 31.

Courtney White, president of Food Network and streaming food content for Discovery, Inc., said: “Ina has a huge, devoted fan base who know that each and every Ina premiere is a television event. Ina’s new series showcases her exceptional talents beyond what she has ever shared before. I am thrilled that we will be continuing our relationship on multiple platforms for years to come.”

Garten added: “I’m so looking forward to filming new shows. With Be My Guest, I’m welcoming really fun, interesting people into my barn in East Hampton for good food and conversation. The range of platforms—from streaming and network TV to audio—offers new and creative ways to connect with new viewers. This is going to be so much fun!”