Food cooks up 10 new series in '02
Cabler's lineup seasoned with specials
Bill of fare kicks off in April and includes: "Oliver's Twist" with "Naked Chef" star Jamie Oliver; travel show "$40 a Day," which challenges host Rachel Ray to dine within a budget; and "All American Festivals," which explores regional cooking competitions. A series of specials, "My Country My Kitchen" -- where chefs take journeys to their culinary homelands -- expands to a weekly and daily skein "Cooking Live" with net's golden girl Sara Moulton has been replaced by "Sara's Secrets."
For further sustenance, "Al Roker's Big, Bad BBQ Special," "Emeril Salutes America" and "Bon Appetit/ Food Network Awards" are among the specials peppering the lineup.
For Food Net, 2001 was a banner year with a 32% increase in subscribers to nearly 74 million. In key demos, first quarter to date, numbers are up 84% for women 25-54 and 74% for adults 25-54. In coveted 18-49 demo, numbers are up 60%.
"It's not an accident," network prexy Judy Girard told Daily Variety. "Food affects everybody -- there is a way to tap in an emotional connection to everybody on some level with food."
Earlier this year, net launched "A Cook's Tour" with best-selling author and Gotham-based chef Anthony Bourdain; "Follow That Food" with channel staple Gordon Elliot; and "Keith Famie's Adventures" featuring former "Survivor" contestant and chef Famie.
