Scripps to make big talent play in UK & EMEA

Scripps Networks UK & EMEA plans to work with more big-name talent as part of a strategy to build its British digital terrestrial share.

In an exclusive interview with TBI in Cannes last week, Scripps UK & EMEA managing director Phillip Luff said the November 2015 commission of Paul Hollywood’s City Bakes for Food Network signposted a new element of the channel group’s international strategy.

The ten-part series sees the Great British Bake Off judge touring cities famous for their baking cultures such as Miami, Warsaw, Naples, New York and St Petersburg before giving local delicacies a “Hollywood twist”.

“The show is a really good example of how we are focusing on big talent that appeals to the UK DTT audience,” he said. “Big talent really makes a difference in that area.”

To this point, Scripps international channels operations have focused on commissioning local series with emerging talent such as Siba Mtongana (Siba’s Table), alongside content piped through from the US parent networks.

“This third pillar to the strategy is not in place of us breaking emerging new talent or doing local commissions,” said Luff, who joined Scripps from Discovery Communications just over a year ago.

He said Scripps was working on local commissions in Russia, Poland and Italy.