Bon Appetit Launches Free Streaming Network

Bon Appétit today launched a free over-the-top (OTT) channel and announced a slate of original programming available to stream on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. The viral success of the brand's videos underscores the demand to make more content available on every screen possible. The initial programming lineup includes a library of Bon Appétit's most popular videos and new OTT-exclusive shows featuring Brad Leone, Claire Saffitz and more fan-obsessed personalities from the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen.

This is Condé Nast's latest endeavor in video expansion to bring lifestyle content to TV screens. Bon Appétit's Brad Leone and Claire Saffitz are just two of the brand's online sensations with avid fans and large social followings. Viewers can expect to see authentic food stories from relatable, expert personalities across the channel's full slate of programming. Condé Nast also acquired all three seasons of the nostalgic "The Naked Chef" with host Jamie Oliver that will live on the network in celebration of the show's 20th anniversary. The series is distributed by BBC Studios.

"As a brand, we put talent first," said Adam Rapoport, editor in chief of Bon Appétit. "What originated as a social strategy to capture the personalities inside our test kitchen fueled the rapid growth of our digital fanbase and Youtube channel."

In 2018, Bon Appétit's videos garnered 1.3 billion total views across platforms, a 49% increase from 2017.* One of the fastest growing food channels on YouTube, Bon Appétit garnered 340 million views on the platform, a 255% increase from 2017. These results drove subscriber growth bringing the brand up to more than 3 million followers to date.** Bon Appétit was recently named to Ad Age's publishers A-List for having a blockbuster year in video.

"Bon Appétit has an increasingly successful presence across video platforms with its popular hosts and loyal fans, so launching a streaming channel is a natural evolution," said Oren Katzeff, president, Condé Nast Entertainment. "Our viewers can experience the authenticity of Bon Appétit on all screens with content specifically produced for each platform, which now includes an at-home, lean-back video experience on OTT."

"Whether we're demonstrating how to poach an egg or make sauerkraut, or recreating Skittles candy using gourmet ingredients, we keep it fun and informative. We're excited to bring the content our fans love to a bigger screen," Rapoport added.

The brand's OTT-exclusive programming is specifically handcrafted for food lovers and explorers who seek an authentic approach to the world of food:

• "It's Alive: Goin' Places" builds on what fans love about Brad's series "It's Alive" and showcases Brad's hilarious sense of adventure and food exploration as he travels to a new culinary scene and does a deep dive into the culture, specialties and tastes of each region. In season one, Brad travels to central Texas. All four exclusive episodes are available now.
• In "Bon Appétit's Baking School," pastry chef Claire Saffitz brings her relatable and fun style to the new series in which she tackles everything from indispensable ingredients to tricky techniques for making the world's most popular BAKED goods. Up first: cakes! The series will launch in March.
• "Making Perfect" features the test kitchen chefs working together in this new ensemble-led show to figure out how to make the perfect version of iconic dishes, exploring what it takes to make each ingredient through a mix of in-kitchen testing, expert wrangling, and out-in-the-world exploring. The first season will focus on pizza in five episodes hosted by different Bon Appétit personalities. The series will launch in April.

In addition to the original programming, the free network will feature the most popular content from Bon Appétit's Youtube channel and BonAppétit.com, including episodes from "From the Test Kitchen" (222 million lifetime views), "It's Alive" (120 million lifetime views), "Gourmet Makes" (77 million lifetime views) and "Handcrafted" (30 million lifetime views)***. The channel will also feature videos from Epicurious, including the popular series"Price Points" (66 million lifetime views)***.

The project was initially announced at Condé Nast's NewFronts and follows the launch of WIRED's OTT channel. In an era of cord cutting, the network aims to fill the void of food lifestyle content and offers advertisers a unique opportunity to reach new audiences through ad placements or series integrations. The Bon Appétit streaming channel sponsors include Café Appliances and Milk. View the trailer here and read more on BonAppétit.com/TV.

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