• Broadcasting & Cable, Tuesday, April 4, 2006 11:01 AM

The Food Network, which has been building a strong presence in daytime, is planning to move some of its biggest names to prime time.  At the same time, the cable network is planning to make several of its franchise programs increasingly available on multiple platforms.  (It has deals with Sprint, Time Warner, Comcast, MSN, and Yahoo)  In sum, it's doing what every smart content company is doing these days--undergirding and extending its valuable brand. According to Broadcasting & Cable, Food Network "plans to premiere at least three new prime time entertainment series before this fall, trying to capitalize on the ratings success it’s seen from series like ‘Iron Chef America’ and ‘The Next Food Network Star.’ Coming in June are ‘Two for the Road.’ a cross-country search for local treats starring Food Network chef Paula Deen’s sons Jamie and Bobby, and ‘Throwdown with Bobby Flay,’ a cooking-competition series in which longtime network personality Bobby Flay challenges experts in various specialties to duels. In September, the network will premiere ‘Paula’s Cooking Party’ (working title), a more saucy version of Deen’s daytime show, featuring audience interaction."  The objective, says senior programming veep Bob Tuschman, is to offer content that is “dramatic, compelling, funny and entertaining" as a means of strengthening the network's performance in prime time.

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