Bell Media's Food and Lifestyle Channel Gusto to Begin Production on 10 New Original Canadian Productions

– Nine series and specials from Ottawa's Gusto Worldwide Media confirmed, including THE LATIN KITCHEN and ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS –
– Bell Media In-House Production announces new design challenge series THE SEARCH FOR CANADA'S NEXT DESIGNER, hosted by design guru Tommy Smythe –
– Production on Season 2 of original Canadian series FISH THE DISH and ONE WORLD KITCHEN currently underway in Ottawa –
– All original programming from Gusto Worldwide Media will be produced in 4K –

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TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Shortly after Bell Media began operations of its first food and lifestyle channel Gusto, the network announced today that nine deliciously entertaining new original Canadian series and specials from Gusto Worldwide Media - and one exciting design competition series from Bell Media In-House Production - are confirmed to join Gusto's slate of homegrown programming in 2016/2017.

The menu of new food-centric series commissioned from Gusto Worldwide Media include series THE URBAN VEGETARIAN and THE LATIN KITCHEN, as well as specials SPENCER AND ROBERT'S GAME DAY BUFFET, ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS, ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES, and WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER'S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES. The nine productions, all to be shot in stunning 4K, are set to shoot in Ottawa this year. In addition, Gusto confirmed second seasons of marquee original Canadian series A IS FOR APPLE, FISH THE DISH, and ONE WORLD KITCHEN from Gusto Worldwide Media. Premiere dates will be announced in the coming weeks.   

"Today's order underscores our commitment to the success of Gusto and the growth of its original production in this very exciting space," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, CTV and Specialty, Bell Media. "We hope that with such a strong production slate we can mine and springboard new audiences into these and other great programs that will comprise our schedule."

"Gusto is known for its diverse and inviting slate of food programming, and we are thrilled to be working with Chris Knight and his talented team on these new shows to add to the channel's line up," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "These series are going to satisfy the cravings of current Gusto fans, and are sure to bring new viewers to the channel; each one is a stylish, appetizing, and engaging series."

"Our partnership with Bell Media now allows us to produce hundreds of hours of high quality, entertaining, 4K, food and lifestyle programming for years to come," said Chris Knight, President and CEO, Gusto Worldwide Media. "This is only the beginning."

Gusto also announced today that it has begun production on THE SEARCH FOR CANADA'S NEXT DESIGNER, from Bell Media In-House Production in collaboration with Swedish home furnishing retailer, IKEA. The six-episode, 30-minute series, currently in production in Toronto, is hosted by THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW's design expert Tommy Smythe.

Further details about Gusto's new original programming is outlined below:

Series

THE URBAN VEGETARIAN (15, 30-minute episodes, 2017)
This 15-episode, 30-minute series gives Gusto viewers a chance to eat away some of that post-holiday indulgence guilt by providing yummy meal options that won't expand the waistline. Guilt free and delicious.

THE LATIN KITCHEN (15, 30-minute episodes, 2017)
This 15-episode, 30-minute series explores Latin cuisine, including Mexican, Venezuelan, and Spanish! Viewers celebrate the great Latin cuisines of the world with engaging hosts and mouthwatering recipes.

THE SEARCH FOR CANADA'S NEXT DESIGNER (Six, 30-minute episodes, 2016)
From Bell Media In-House Production, this design challenge series sees six, up-and-coming interior designers compete for a coveted design contract with IKEA Canada. Hosted by THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW's design expert Tommy Smythe, the series follows the designers as they face weekly challenges and eliminations.

Specials:

SPENCER AND ROBERT'S GAME DAY BUFFET (One-hour special, 2016)
Spencer Watts (FISH THE DISH) and Robert Jewell (A IS FOR APPLE) invite the lads over to watch the big game, and take on easy-to-make eats, including chicken wings, pulled pork, and a few surprises. Warning: there might even be a vegetable or two!

ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS (One-hour special, 2016)
This one-hour special brings a global twist to sweet holiday baking with sumptuous, easy-to-make recipes from Italy, Argentina, Japan, and Thailand. This baking is sure to become part of every family's holiday traditions.

ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES (One-hour special, 2016)
This one-hour special see series hosts Hana (Japan), Vanessa (Italy), Natalia (Argentina), and Pailin (Thailand) get together to share their favorite traditional holiday dishes from back home.

WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER'S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES (One-hour special, 2016)
In this one-hour special, series host Spencer Watts serves up his take on traditional holiday fare and more than a little ham bone along the way.

THE URBAN VEGETARIAN, THE LATIN KITCHEN, SPENCER AND ROBERT'S GAME DAY BUFFET, ONE WORLD KITCHEN BAKES THE HOLIDAYS, ONE WORLD KITCHEN: OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES, and  WATTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPENCER'S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS RECIPES are created by Chris Knight. Production Executive is Robin Johnston. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, CTV and Specialty. Randy Lennox is President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media.

THE SEARCH FOR CANADA'S NEXT DESIGNER is executive produced by Michelle Crespi. John Simpson is co-executive producer. Nanci MacLean is Vice-President, Bell Media Production. Randy Lennox is President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. Upcoming original series on CTV include CARDINAL and THE DISAPPEARANCE. Among the original scripted series on Bell Media pay, specialty, and streaming platforms are the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, Space's most-watched original series KILLJOYS, Bravo's award-winning and most-watched original drama 19-2, award-winning dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, CraveTV's first original series LETTERKENNY, Discovery's upcoming drama FRONTIER, and Comedy's new satirical news series THE BEAVERTON.  Discovery is also home to Bell Media's hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. Bell Media is one of the first media companies in North America to commit to producing all new scripted series in 4K.

About Gusto:
Gusto, Bell Media's first food and lifestyle channel, features a delicious mix of creative cooking and food programming paired with exciting home renovation, travel, and lifestyle shows. Gusto features a menu of original Canadian series and specials produced in 4K including ONE WORLD KITCHEN and FISH THE DISH, as well as acquired series from stars such as Jamie Oliver and Martha Stewart. Gusto is distributed to more than five million households across Canada and is also available online at www.gustotv.com and on-demand via participating television service providers. Gusto is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

SOURCE Gusto

Nicola Krishna, Music & Lifestyle, Bell Media, 416.384.5276 or [email protected]; Amanda Rinaldo, Music & Lifestyle, Bell Media, 416.384.5325 or [email protected]