The Food Network's international expansion keeps cooking. The Scripps network said Wednesday it has a deal to debut in Singapore and expand its presence in Europe and the Middle East.
The
Singapore arrangement with a local pay-TV distributor calls for a July 5 launch of Food Network Asia, the first iteration of the channel on that continent. English is the primary language in
Singapore, but the network will have Mandarin and Cantonese subtitles.
Scripps said the debut will include an HD feed, with plans for online and mobile distribution.
Greg Moyer, who heads
Scripps' international operations, stated the multiscreen, HD offerings serve as a "model" for the company's aspirations for Food Network distribution globally.
Content will be an amalgam of
locally targeted fare along with programming popular in the U.S.
Scripps also said the Food Network will debut in Cyprus on July 1, where it will be in Greek. A Belgian launch takes place this
week, after a version kicked off in a neighboring area of the Netherlands in April.
Still, the growth could leave a lingering sour taste after a deal to debut Food Network in a $55 million joint
venture in the booming Indian market collapsed in May.
While the Singapore partnership is with another operation, distribution in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is in partnership with a
unit of Liberty Global.
advertisement
advertisement