International food television show formats in the digital era

Esposito, Angela (2018) International food television show formats in the digital era. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A recent pattern has emerged amongst some of the top television production companies in the world – a global investment in a new style of television show format. Food television show formats such as Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off in the UK and Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen in the US have consistently topped television ratings and attracted millions of viewers in every episode aired in their home counties and abroad. A range of publications argue that there has been a global demand for factual television formats, yet existing literature has focused primarily on dramas, talent shows and game show television format genres.

From a production perspective, this thesis aims to respond to these industry changes and the gap in the literature by examining the media branding techniques employed by media managers that have contributed to the development of international food television show formats. It analyzes the distinct challenges and opportunities food television format producers of shows such as Endemol Shine Group’s MasterChef undergo when adapting food formats in international markets. Furthermore, it investigates production decisions around multi-platform strategies. This includes the adaptation of food television show formats onto multi-platform distribution channels such as catch up television like Netflix, Amazon Prime, format brand websites and social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram in order to acquire additional revenue streams.

This thesis examines the managerial decisions that have helped aid the cooking show into becoming a successful, global television format. The research findings are based on a mixed-method qualitative approach featuring 15 qualitative interviews with industry experts from major production companies such as Endemol Shine Group and FremantleMedia and celebrity television chefs, such as BBC One’s MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace and former Food Network star, Paula Deen. The outcomes of this research provide an empirical analysis of the complex relationship between new media technologies, food television and the internationalization of global television formats. Furthermore, this thesis provides a snapshot of a specific and current media trend that exists within a wide scope of media industry practices and aims to provide valuable insights and build on existing media management, multi-platform, and media production theory.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: food television shows, television formats, multi-platform, media management, television production, cooking show, internationalisation, globalisation, digital television, media production.
• Subjects: N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR; P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1990 Broadcasting
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts
• Supervisor's Name: Doyle, Dr. Gillian and Boyle, Dr. Raymond
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: PhD Angela Esposito
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-30925
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2018 09:20
• Last Modified: 20 Nov 2018 12:00
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/30925