I can be first with more insight and perspective from MultiChoice on the The Food Network, South Africa's newest TV channel that MultiChoice successfully launched today at 12:00 on DStv's channel 185.
I asked Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content a few specific questions about The Food Network, why MultiChoice chose to add this food channel, why MultiChoice specifically chose this channel, and about the content on the channel.
For my full Q&A with Aletta Alberts on the new addition of The Food Network to DStv, click on READ MORE below.
The previous attempts at a dedicated food channel on DStv for South Africa ended with both channels being discontinued by the respective channel distributors like Carlton Food Network and then BBC Food.
When did MultiChoice start to look again at the possibility of a dedidcated food network, or has it always been something MultiChoice looked at? Why was it added now?
Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content: BBC Food was actually a strong performing channel. It was terminated because the BBC changed its global strategy and evolved the channel to BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180). A large portion of the content on BBC Lifestyle is food-orientated. MultiChoice knows that food channels are very popular with our subscribers and we have been looking for a dedicated food channel.
Did MultiChoice specifically start out wanting The Food Network, or was it a case of wanting a food channel and then finally deciding, agreeing and getting get The Food Network specifically?
When the rights for Food Network in this territory became available, it was a natural choice for us.
What made The Food Network then a better choice, fit and channel option for DStv in South Africa as opposed to other food channels?
There are no other dedicated food channels that have rights available for this territory. Food Network is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, one of the leading developers of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the internet, and leading international broadcaster Chello Zone. Scripps is the biggest supplier of food content globally and they are now in the process of rolling out their channels on a global scale. Most of the food content in the world is owned by Scripps.
Is there any idea or indication of how much new content there is on this channel? For instance what would be the number of new hours a year, or how does the repeats look, how much stuff will viewers be able to see that is new or original? Did that play a role in acquiring the channel?
This is confidential information. However, as you can imagine, because Scripps owns most of the food content in the world, there will be an abundance of new and original content on the Food Network.
