Endemol sells MKR format to TVNZ
Television production and distribution company Endemol has sold the format rights for Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules to Television New Zealand where it will be produced by Imagination Entertainment for TV2.
The announcement:
Endemol, the world’s largest independent production and distribution company, today announced that Television New Zealand Limited (TVNZ) had acquired the rights to produce a local version of the highest-rating format on Australian television, the Seven Network’s My Kitchen Rules, in a deal negotiated by Andrew Shaw, TVNZ’s General Manager Commissioning, Production and Acquisitions, and Kirsten Cargill, Endemol Worldwide Distribution’s Sales Director, Australia and New Zealand.
My Kitchen Rules New Zealand will be produced by Imagination Entertainment and air on TVNZ’s TV2.
John Kelly, Network Programmer, TV2 commented: “New Zealanders just couldn’t get enough of My Kitchen Rules, with 2013 being the most watched season yet. For this reason, we are thrilled to be teaming with Endemol and Imagination to bring Kiwis their very own local version of MKR.
TVNZ is excited to give New Zealand teams the opportunity to battle it out in the instant restaurant rounds, and create dishes and drama that will captivate the nation.”
As well as the local version, TVNZ have aired the first four seasons of My Kitchen Rules, with outstanding on-air results. The most recent series achieved an average 16.4 rating against all people 18-49 with 42% channel share.
My Kitchen Rules is a format created and produced by the Seven Network, Australia’s most-watched television network. In Australia, My Kitchen Rules has been the undisputed #1 television series in its primetime slot from 2010 – 2013.
Commenting, Seven’s Director of Network Production, Brad Lyons, said: “We are delighted to be expanding this extraordinary format beyond Australia. It’s a remarkable programme. We are immensely proud of it and the results it’s delivering. It continues to build as each series is produced, and we’re looking forward to expanding My Kitchen Rules in the global market-place.”
The season four Grand Final Winner Announcement was the highest rating programme of 2013, with a combined metropolitan and regional audience of 4.272 million viewers. The opening week of the new season of My Kitchen Rules on Seven in Australia this year is delivering market- leading audience shares, is up on its opening week in 2013, and ranks as Australia’s most- watched programme for total viewers and in all key audience demographics: 16-39s, 18-49s and 25-54s.
Source: Endemol press release.
