Bobby Flay has signed a three-year exclusive deal with Food Network that includes development of new content for the network and elsewhere within the Discovery portfolio. Flay’s shows include Beat Bobby Flay and new project Bobby and Sophia on the Coast (wt), featuring the chef and his daughter. 

“A versatile talent both on and off camera, Bobby has been a major influence in shaping how audiences experience the evolving world of food,” said Food Network in a statement. “One of the most respected food authorities and the longest-running Food Network talent to have new episodes or series in premieres, with this new deal Flay will be continuing to share his skills and talent with audiences globally for years to come.”

Flay opened Mesa Grill in New York in 1991. He first appeared on Food Network in 1994. 

“We are thrilled to continue Bobby Flay's long standing relationship with Food Network,” said Courtney White, president, Food Network and Streaming Food Content, Discovery Inc. “He captivates our audience with his incredible culinary skill, fierce competitive spirit and his trademark ability to share a deep passion for food. Bobby generously invites viewers into his culinary world, sharing his #WeCook philosophy and inspiring everyone in the kitchen. Continuing this creative relationship with such an extraordinary talent is the perfect way to usher in the holidays.” 

Flay’s shows have included Grillin' & Chillin', BBQ Brawl, Bobby Flay's Barbeque Addiction, Boy Meets Grill, Brunch @ Bobby's, Iron Chef America and Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

“I'm thrilled to extend my relationship with Food Network and Discovery,” he said. “Although these talks to renew took a little longer than expected, the important thing is that both sides are happy that we can now build on an already rock solid foundation. Stay tuned for some incredibly exciting new shows as I promise to take food and cooking to places we've never imagined before.” ■

Scripps Networks Interactive is launching Scripps Lifestyle Studios, a new content studio aimed at advertisers to develop content across multiple platforms including social media, apps, web sites and third party digital media outlets.

The division, led by senior vice president & general manager Vikki Neil, will work with Scripps networks like HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel, producing content and advertising solutions encompassing video, photography, social, live digital events, and written word editorial.

“This new creative hub will enable us to achieve significant additional scale across all digital platforms, and build on our leadership position in lifestyle content,” Scripps Networks chief operating officer Burton Jablin said in a statement. “The linear content we produce across our television networks is an essential element of the media plans of brands that want to reach large upscale adult audiences. With the creation of the Scripps Lifestyle Studios, we are making moves to ensure that we deliver that same audience across the broadest possible range of our own platforms and those of our partners.”

Scripps Lifestyle Studios will operate physical locations through the Food Network Kitchen in New York and the HGTV Studio in Knoxville, Tenn., and will bring together more than 100 culinary, home and travel experts to create unique content opportunities for consumers and advertisers. The food team’s content initiatives around Thanksgiving last month gave foodnetwork.com its biggest ever Thanksgiving Eve, with more than 30 million page views.

The Food Network Kitchen will become an important production hub, developing and producing food-related content on a daily basis, including for the company’s own digital platforms as well as third party services including Snapchat, Facebook and Periscope.

“Advertisers turn to us because of our unmatched ability to deliver high-quality audiences who want ideas, information and inspiration about home, food and travel,” Neil said in a statement. “With the Scripps Lifestyle Studios, we’re going to be able to reach even more people with high quality original content designed specifically for the platform on which it is delivered.”

In addition to Neil, the Scripps Lifestyle Studios management team includes former Martha Stewart Living executive Deb Puchalla as vice president of content development, and digital advertising specialist Traci Topham as senior vice president of Scripps Lifestyle Studios client solutions. Executive vice president of digital, Tamara Franklin, heads Scripps Networks Interactive’s digital business while executive vice president of digital ad sales, Beth Lawrence, heads digital advertising sales.

Scripps also plans social media events to bring content directly to fans, kicking off with a day-long cookie cookie party on Facebook Live on Dec. 11, featuring live holiday entertaining and baking fun with HGTV and Food Network takes place on Dec. 11. Bobby Flay and his daughter, Sophie, [pictured] will also cook together in videos for Food Network’s Discover channel on Snapchat. On Dec. 13, Alton Brown will take over the Snapchat channel, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at his favorite eats and revealing sabotage secrets from hit Food Network show Cutthroat Kitchen.

Scripps Networks Interactive said it will launch Food Network in Brazil later this month on satellite TV service provider Sky Brazil, offering a mix of local original productions and global programming like Chopped and Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  

“Bringing Food Network to Brazil represents Scripps’ continued commitment to building scale for our international division and further solidifies our position as the global leader in lifestyle media,” said Scripps Networks president Jim Samples in a statement. “Scripps has already created a strong foothold in the market through program licensing deals, and we are now building on this demand for our high-quality content by launching a premiere 24/7 food channel.”

At launch, Food Network in Brazil will feature two key local productions including Menu da Semana and ICKFD – I Could Kill for Dessert. In Menu da Semana, food-loving actresses Camila Raffanti and Juliana Araripe will interview notable chefs and restaurateurs about signature events and local culinary delights. ICKFD – I Could Kill for Dessert is a new series focused on cocktails and sweets, hosted by pastry chef and YouTube star Danielle Noce. 

“Food Network’s brand recognition mixed with its engaging content and trusted personalities is a recipe for success around the world. With our first ever launch of Food Network in the region, we now have the opportunity to create a culinary destination made up of our high-quality, aspirational programming, filtered through a local lens, to entertain and delight Brazilian audiences,” said Scripps Networks Latin America managing director Márcio Fonseca, in a statement.

The network will also feature popular global hit series from Food Network, including Chopped, a high-stakes culinary competition hosted by Ted Allen; and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, where the superstar-chef challenges an unexpected culinary expert to a cook-off of the challenger’s signature recipe; two-time Emmy-nominated show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri; and Chef Wantedwith Anne Burrell, where chef Anne Burrell puts candidates through the toughest job interview of their lives in the name of helping top restaurants find an executive chef.