The UK branch of American specialist channel Food Network has been revealed to be receiving an expansion, with the cookery channel planned to celebrate a first year on the terrestrial platform Freeview by increasing its permitted 4-hour schedule to 24.
A move set to come into place a week from now on 20 July, the expansion to an all-day format of thought to be a tribute to its relative success on Freeview channel #49, with the Scrips Networks Interactive channel no longer needing to ‘share’ its schedule.
Having launched on Sky (#262) in 2009, the Food Network UK has gone from strength to strength in the region (also present on Sky’s rival satellite platform Freesat), and through its terrestrial links has enabled users to view the network’s top shows, including American imports Man vs. Food Nation, Drive-Ins and Dives, Kid in a Candy Store, and more local productions such as Spice Prince of India.
Scripps have used the news to reveal that in its 1st year of operation, the limited 4-hour block was not a major hindrence to ratings, as they clocked up 11m unique viewers on Freeview over its year, with an average monthly audience of 3.3m unique viewers (counting ‘regulars’).
Nick Thorogood, the managing director of Food Network Europe, said of developments: “Today’s news is a testament to the quality of our programming and Food Network UK’s popularity and reputation amongst viewers. By extending our hours on this platform, all Freeview households will now be able to enjoy our great food entertainment all day, every day.”
Guy North, director of marketing communicaitons at Freeview, added: “By expanding Food Network’s on-air presence, we are not only providing viewers with round-the-clock food and lifestyle programmes, but we also enrich and strengthen the overall value of our subscription-free offer.”
Taking up a fairly rare offering of hours extension from Freeview, will the Food Network enjoy further success, or will they end up reverting on the basis of the popular cooking phrase ‘always leave them wanting more’?