HALLMARK CHANNEL SIGNS DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH ACCLAIMED MASTER CHEF EMERIL LAGASSE
Cable Network to Add New Cooking Series Produced by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to Its Roster of Lifestyle Programming Later This Year
Celebrity master chef Emeril Lagasse has received a greenlight from Hallmark Channel for a new daily cooking show. The show, which will be produced in association with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., will premiere in the fourth quarter of 2011 as a part of the "Hallmark Channel Home" daytime block. The deal was announced today at a session of the Television Critic's Tour (TCA) in Los Angeles.
"Emeril is an exceptional entertainer and entrepreneur with a devoted and loyal fan base. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Hallmark family," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Hallmark Channel. "He is a perfect addition to our Hallmark Channel Home line-up and our viewers, advertisers and distribution partners will all welcome him enthusiastically."
Emeril Lagasse added: "I am looking forward to working with Hallmark Channel and bringing viewers an entertaining and helpful cooking program that will inspire them to create truly delicious menus for their families and friends."
Emeril Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of 12 award-winning restaurants in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami and Bethlehem, PA. He is a national TV personality, has hosted over 2000 shows on the Food Network, and is a food correspondent for ABC's "Good Morning America." In addition to his television presence, Emeril has a live, call-in radio program, Cooking with Emeril, that airs twice weekly on Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS XM. Lagasse is the best-selling author of 15 cookbooks, including his latest book, Farm to Fork: Cooking Local, Cooking Fresh. In 2002, Emeril established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support children's educational programs that inspire and mentor young people through the culinary arts, nutrition, healthy eating, and important life skills. Lagasse's restaurant company, Emeril's Homebase, is located in New Orleans and houses restaurant operations, a culinary test kitchen, and a boutique store for his signature products. Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands in April 2008, when Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products.
About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising
company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, the Martha Stewart Living line of home-improvement products at The Home Depot, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Michaels and independent retailers, the Martha Stewart Pets line at PetSmart and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.
Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of 87.5 million subscribers. The top tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading network in quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, lifestyle and general entertainment content, and is the home of "The Martha Stewart Show", which anchors the channel's new daytime HOME block.
Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on the family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events.
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