‘MasterChef Asia’ returns after a ten-year hiatus
“MasterChef Asia” returns. Banijay Rights has signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery and CreAsia Studio – part of Endemol Shine India – to produce a new ten-episode series of the pan-Asian cooking competition, marking the format’s return to the region after a ten-year hiatus.
The new series, a 10 x 60 minute series, will be shot in Macau, which has been declared a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO. Instead of casting new faces, the series will bring back 10 former “MasterChef” contestants from across the continent, each competing for a second shot at the title.
The show airs on TLC, Discovery and the Asian Food Network in India, Southeast Asia, Greater China and Korea, on Lala TV in Japan and on the Fatafat channel in the Middle East. The Macau Government Tourism Office is a production partner of the series.
The deal was brokered by Rashmi Bajpai, executive VP Asia at Banijay Rights.
“The return of ‘MasterChef Asia’ marks an important milestone for this iconic global format and the Asian television market,” said Bajpai. “We are proud to partner with Warner Bros. Discovery to deliver an exciting new series that reflects Asia’s extraordinary culinary creativity.”
Lynn Ng, GVP and head of content for APAC Networks at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “Asia is a melting pot of gastronomy and we look forward to working with Banijay Rights and our partners to bring a new offering of this global hit format to fans across the region.”
Deepak Dhar, Founder and Group CEO of Banijay Asia and EndemolShine India, added: “The return of ‘MasterChef Asia’ reflects the growing creative power and scale of the region. Bringing the series to life in Macau, a city celebrated for its culinary heritage, marks an exciting new chapter for the brand.”
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, said: “We are pleased to welcome ‘MasterChef Asia’ to Macao. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, food is at the core of who we are, and this partnership is a delicious way to share our passion with the world.”
“MasterChef” was created by Franc Roddam and first aired in 1990. The format has been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s most successful cooking television franchise, with more than 700 seasons and 16,000 episodes produced in 72 markets. Banijay Rights handles the worldwide distribution of the brand.
