Scripps Networks Interactive gets an early start on original production for 2016 with season two of Food Wars on Food Network premiering on 11 January 2016 in a prime time 10pm slot.

The show, produced by Endemol Shine’s Singapore-based production unit, is part of an original slate Scripps has green-lit for 2016 as the network continues to ramp up original productions commissioned and funded in-house.

The slate also includes the first local version of long-running U.S. format House Hunters for HGTV Asia, which Scripps started talking about at the ContentAsia Summit in September this year. Details are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

The new format commissions keeps Scripps on the list of top three regional entertainment broadcasters out of the gate so far with original Asia productions/formats for 2016.

The top five (by budget) in the space in 2015 were Sony Pictures Television Networks with Asia’s Got Talent (FremantleMedia Asia), Fox International Channels with Asia’s Next Top Model season three (Beach House Pictures), A+E Networks’ MasterChef Asia (Endemol Shine Asia), NBCUniversal Channels with How Do I Look? Asia (Matchbox Pictures Asia) and Scripps with Food Wars (Endemol Shine) season one.

Fox International Channels leads for 2016 so far. The Hong Kong-based regional network started production on Asia’s Next Top Model season four this month.

2015’s other big regional players have not showed their hands yet, with no confirmation on second seasons of Asia’s Got Talent (Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia) or How Do I Look? Asia (NBCUniversal Channels).

Sony Pictures Television Networks has, however, green lit a Philippines’ version of Cash Cab by activeTV.

A+E Networks Asia premiered the first season of MasterChef Asia in early September. The show ran for 15 episodes, with the finale on 10 December. A+E hasn’t announced season two yet.

HBO Asia, which premieres this year’s original series Halfworlds on 29 November, is expected to continue to add high-end drama to its schedules. No announcements on 2016’s originals have been made yet.

Scripps’ Food Wars showdown show, hosted by Food Hero 2015 winner Debbie Wong, pits food establishments in different cities against each other to find best of the best dishes.

Countries covered in the second season are Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Food Wars follows a strong end to 2015, with two original productions – Must Try Asia season two and Wonderful Indonesia Flavours – running on Asian Food Channel through November and December.

The six-part half-hour Must Try Asia returned on Tuesday, 10 November, in a 10pm slot. The show, produced by Singapore-based Freeflow Productions, is hosted by Food Hero 2014 winner Sarah Benjamin, who goes in search of favourite dishes across six new destinations.

Scripps sponsor-funded content creation initiative in partnership with tourism boards around the region includes Asian Food Channel series, Wonderful Indonesia Flavours.

The show, a first partnership with Tourism Indonesia, premieres on 23 November, and will run Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm (6pm in Jakarta and Bangkok).

The eight half hours, produced by Malaysia’s Wild Snapper, follow Australian chefs Tobie Puttock and Darren Robertson and Indonesian celeb chef Rinrin Marinka across Indonesia in their quest to discover and recreate local Javanese dishes.

Wonderful Indonesia Flavours follows content creation partnerships earlier this year with Tourism Philippines (The Amazing Food Challenge season three), Jakarta Tourism (Back to the Streets Jakarta) and Penang Tourism (My Penang).

Published on 16 November 2015