Debmar-Mercury Acquires 'Kitchen' Distribution Rights

Debmar-Mercury has teamed up once again with producer ITV Studios to acquire domestic distribution rights to a hit U.S. series.
Hell's Kitchen will return to Fox for its two-hour eighth season premiere at 8pm next month, announced Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus, Ira Bernstein, and ITV Studios President-CEO Paul Buccieri.
The distribution deal for the sizzling, long-running series, in which celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay puts aspiring chefs through a rigorous culinary boot camp in search of the one worthy of a life-changing grand prize, marks the third pairing between Debmar-Mercury and ITV Studios this year. The two companies are also collaborating on the development of the syndicated talk panel show, The Chefs, and a new U.S. first-run version of the highest-rated U.K. daytime talker, The Jeremy Kyle Show.
Hell’s Kitchen remains a breakout hit, firmly entrenched once again this summer as a dominant No. 1. In its most recent airing, the show posted double-digit gains; led all competition in the core adults 18-49 demo, as well as adults 18-34; drew its largest audience of the summer in total viewers; and helped Fox beat its next highest-rated competitors of the night by 38% in adults 18-49 and 63% in adults 18-34.
Bernstein commented: "What is so striking about this phenomenal series is its enduring strength. It is a proven performer that we strongly believe has the potential to play across a variety of dayparts in off-network syndication."
Marcus added: "We are excited to see our relationship grow with an ideal partner like ITV Studios. Its series have the unique ability to cut through the clutter, resonate with viewers and - perhaps most importantly - show enormous staying power."
(BMcN)