CMT PICKS UP EXCLUSIVE CABLE RIGHTS TO HIT FOX SERIES ‘HELL’S KITCHEN’ FROM DISTRIBUTOR DEBMAR-MERCURY AND PRODUCER ITV STUDIOS AMERICA
05/23/13
LOS ANGELES – May 23, 2013 – CMT has reached a multi-year licensing deal with distributor Debmar-Mercury to become the exclusive cable partner for off-network episodes of HELL”S KITCHEN, produced by ITV Studios America, it was announced today by Katie Buchanan, senior vice president of programming strategy, CMT. The series will debut weekdays beginning this Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at 12 p.m. ET/PT on CMT and will also be available on CMT VOD.
“The high energy and drama Gordon Ramsay brings to this series is a perfect companion to the CMT brand and complements our action-packed summer lineup nicely,” said Buchanan.
Adapted from the wildly successful British short-run series of the same name, HELL’S KITCHEN has aired on FOX since its May 30, 2005, premiere. The hit competition series follows 12 competing chefs 24/7, capturing the fiery drama, intrigue and high emotion as the restaurant’s opening night approaches. These ambitious hopefuls believe they have the drive, talent and desire to run their own restaurant, and they will be tossed into the cauldron, working under world-renowned celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay and fighting for survival.
“CMT will provide the ideal environment for the terrific HELL’S KITCHEN brand, ensuring that it thrives in both the off-network cable and first-run broadcast arenas,” commented Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein.
Visit CMT's press-only website www.cmtpress.com for episodes and descriptions, as well as downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
About CMT
CMT, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 92 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.
About Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes for daytime television The Wendy Williams Show and has U.S. distribution rights to Fremantle Media North America’s Family Feud; distributes Tyler Perry sitcoms House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns, Lionsgate Television’s Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen and entering off-network syndication in September 2014) and Saint George (starring and co-created by George Lopez, debuting in fall 2014 and in off-network syndication in September 2016), both for FX; Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and has U.S. TV distribution rights to South Park, Hell’s Kitchen and a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.
ITV Studios America
ITV Studios America, the U.S. based production entity of ITV Studios in the UK, is one of the largest international producers for the U.S. market and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing reality and scripted programming for U.S. networks. ITV Studios America has a slate of series in production with major networks and syndicators, including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, The First 48, After the First 48, Four Weddings, Four Houses, The Car Chasers, Big Sam's Kentucky Auction, The Chase, The Mathis Project, The Bill Cunningham Show, America Now and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
ITV Studios is a world leader in television production and distribution. It has international production centers in the UK, Germany, France, the Nordics and Australia as well as America. It is a distributor of programs to all regions worldwide. The company also recently announced a major acquisition to the ITV Studios group of leading US production company High Noon Entertainment, which follows the US acquisition last year of Gurney Productions, producers of Duck Dynasty. For further information visit: http://www.itvstudios.com/us.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Stephanie Molina (310) 752-8825 stephanie.molina@cmt.com
