Independent media company Tastemade has acquired six lifestyle series starring celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for the U.S. through a partnership with Fremantle.
Three of the acquired titles are set to make their U.S. premieres on the Tastemade streaming channel this August. “Jamie Oliver Cooks the Mediterranean” debuts Aug. 5, showcasing Oliver’s exploration of regional cuisines. “Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredient Mediterranean Meals” follows on Aug. 6, offering accessible recipes inspired by Mediterranean flavors. “The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver,” a cooking competition format, premieres Aug. 17.
The deal also includes the series “Jamie Oliver: Cooking for Less” and the holiday series, “Jamie Oliver’s Easy Meals at Christmas” and “Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Shortcuts.”
Tastemade, recognized with numerous industry awards including three Emmy Awards and three James Beard Awards, engages a global audience across streaming and mobile platforms with food, travel and home design content.
As part of the agreement, new annual Tastemade+ subscribers will receive Oliver’s latest cookbook, “5 Ingredients Mediterranean,” with their membership, which provides ad-free access to the platform’s content library of over 1,000 hours of shows and 12,000 recipes.
Jay Holzer, Tastemade’s head of programming, said: “Jamie Oliver is one of the most recognized chefs in the world; we’re thrilled to bring his newest shows to U.S. audiences for the first time and to have him back on our channels. We could not be more excited to partner with Fremantle to share this slate of fresh content with our viewers who are hungry for cooking shows that are as informative as they are fun to watch.”
Zoe Collins, managing director of Jamie Oliver Media Group, added: “As we continue to supercharge Jamie’s brand in the U.S., I’m delighted to be working with Tastemade, who are leaders in the food space. This exciting new partnership will bring Jamie’s unique cooking style and his inspirational and accessible recipes to new and engaged audiences across America.”
Fremantle has been Oliver’s global distribution partner since 2002.
Trey Durst, VP of U.S. Distribution for Fremantle’s international division, said: “Fremantle’s partnership with Tastemade provides a unique opportunity for culinary enthusiasts. These series showcase Jamie’s empowering and inspirational approach to cooking, and we are so excited to bring them to U.S. homes with Tastemade.”
Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios signed a multi-year first look deal with Tastemade to produce unscripted lifestyle content.
