ITV Studios Welcomes New Territories For Come Dine With Me

ITV Studios has announced a raft of new local productions for its phenomenally successful format Come Dine With Me.
Deals have been closed with broadcasters in Ireland, Cyprus and Iran for the production of more than 120 new local episodes.
These latest agreements take the total number of local productions of Come Dine with Me to 30. The news follows the announcement of ITV's Transformation Plan, which includes a focus on building global brands to grow the international presence of ITV Studios.
Ireland's commercial channel TV3 has ordered 30 local episodes of Come Dine With Me, which will be produced by ITV Studios in Ireland and will air as part of the broadcaster's autumn schedule. Cyprus' public broadcaster CYBC has signed 65 episodes, which will be made by its in-house production team for launch in early 2011.
New Iranian broadcaster Marjan Television Network, who are due to launch Manoto 1 at the end of October this year, has licensed 30 episodes which will feature as part of the channel's debut schedule. The episodes will be produced in the United Kingdom by Manoto 1 and feature Iranian diners and will then broadcaster throughout Iran.
Tobi De Graaff, Director of Global Television Distribution at ITV Studios Global Entertainment said: "Come Dine With Me continues to prove its popularity on the international stage, increasing audience shares and becoming a long-term schedule fixture in many territories.
"This proven global success combined with its extremely efficient and cost-effective production has created a very popular and trusted format for international broadcasters to commission."
Ben Frow, Director of Programming, TV3, added: "We are very excited about Come Dine With Me coming to Ireland and are looking forward to showing that no-one entertains quite like the Irish!"
In addition to these local productions, ITV Studios has closed a new multi-year deal with the UK's Channel 4 for new daytime and primetime episodes of the hit format.
Originally commissioned for Channel 4, factual entertainment format Come Dine With Me follows amateur chefs as they compete for the title of ultimate dinner party host.
(KMcA)