FremantleMedia takes Jamie Oliver global

Fremantle International Distribution (FID), the distribution arm of global production company FremantleMedia, has announced a raft of international sales for a number of series starring celebrity British chef Jamie Oliver, including ‘Jamie’s School Dinners’, ‘Jamie’s Great Italian Escape’ and ‘Jamie’s Kitchen’.
Jamie’s School Dinners is currently planned to premiere in the US on TLC while Jamie’s Great Italian Escape will make its American debut on the Travel Channel.
The launch of Jamie’s Kitchen, also on TLC, will mark the first time the show will air on one of the Discovery Communication Inc.’s cable networks.
Both Jamie’s Kitchen and Jamie’s School Dinners have received tremendous praise from viewers and critics alike. Recognition for the shows include: Jamie’s Kitchen - Indie Award, C4 Documentary Award (UK), Grierson, Most Entertaining Documentary (UK); Jamie’s School Dinners - National Television Award, Most Popular Factual Programme (UK).
Some 25 territories have to date snapped up Jamie’s latest series, Jamie’s Great Italian Escape including RaiSat, Italy; TV Norge, Norway; TV Danmark, Denmark; SABC, South Africa; Kanal 5 Sweden; Discovery Asia; Network Ten, Australia; TVB, Hong Kong; TVNZ, New Zealand; RTL2, Germany; Food Network; Canada, WOWOW, Japan; GloboSat, Brazil; VMMA, Belgium; Ren-TV, Russia and CP 2000 and Ceska, Czech Republic.
Jamie’s Great Italian Escape follows Jamie’s impulsive trip to Italy where he searches for new sources of inspiration in order to reignite his passion for cooking. Driving from town to town in his trusty camper, Jamie’s adventures take him across the country as he learns about street food in Palermo, dines with monks in Farfa and hunts wild boar in the mountains of Le Marche.
An impressive 33 territories have ordered Jamie’s School Dinners including ORF, Austria; OK-Nova TV, Croatia; Cuisine TV, France; RaiSat, Italy; SIC, Portugal and Kanal 5, Sweden, among others.
David Ellender, Managing Director, Fremantle International Distribution, said: “Jamie Oliver’s accessibility and culinary creativity have allowed him to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers to create a great demand for his programming around the world. As we introduce Jamie to a wider audience in the United States, Discovery Communications Inc.’s unique array of networks provide the perfect venue for these premieres and make them the ideal partner.”
(GB)