Factual
Living Foodz to add Tamil feed in FY 18-19
MUMBAI: The flavours of regional India have not failed to touch food channels. In a bid to tap this market, Living Foodz plans to launch a Tamil feed in financial year 2018-19.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Living Foodz COO Shaurya Mehta said that the network, Living Network, was exploring feeds in southern languages. “There is strong potential for having a feed in Tamil. It will be around the coming financial year.”
The channel was launched in September 2015 and garnered great traction in its opening week, topping the charts in the food and lifestyle space according to Broadcast Audience Research Council data. Even in the latest week 9 of 2018, Living Foodz has maintained its leadership with 1206 (000) impressions.
When asked whether lifestyle channels should market themselves more in order to create a buzz around their programming, Mehta said that the question was about effectiveness. Speaking in relation to the network, he pointed out that the network undertook adequate representation. “What we do is adequate representation in terms of new content created and the show that is being launched. We do market the shows a lot. By and large, we have seen a great response in term of marketing efforts,” he added.
Mehta said that GST and demonetisation did not heavily impact the network’s operations, adding that the channel was just growing. “We may have been affected but we didn’t really deviate from our plans,” he clarified.
Talking about the upcoming shows, Mehta said that Femme Foodies season 2 was round the corner. Quarter is another show lined up for May 2019 with a unique concept of exploring the station master’s tiffin. The show will be hosted by chef Ranveer Brar and will explore a variety of food on a train journey.
Living Foodz will be launched on UK’s Sky platform and a date will be announced soon. It is expected to be added to the Sky line-up towards the end of March or beginning of April. The broadcaster has already firmed up its programming output and is expected to add a number of local shows to localise the feed of the channel. Living Foodz has also finalised its electronic programme guide (EPG) slot.
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DUBLIN: Ireland is betting big on reality television. In a move that has Hollywood scouts scrambling for their passports, Dublin has unveiled Europe’s first tax credit dedicated solely to unscripted programming—think The Traitors rather than Game of Thrones.
The scheme offers producers a juicy 20 per cent rebate on qualifying expenditure, capped at €15 million ($17.5 million) per project. It’s a cultural credit with strings attached: programmes must pass a test proving they genuinely promote Irish and European culture. No word yet on whether Love Island derivatives need apply.
Ireland tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris says the incentive will cement Ireland’s reputation as a “centre of excellence” for audiovisual production. His colleague, minister for culture, communications and sport Patrick O’Donovan, insists Ireland has “the talent, creativity and production expertise to lead” in unscripted television. Bold claims for a nation that has spent decades exporting scripted drama.
The timing is canny. Unscripted production costs have soared globally, making Ireland’s existing infrastructure—and now its tax breaks—increasingly attractive. Fox Entertainment Studios already churns out shows like Beat Shazam and The Floor from Irish studios. Whether these American productions will pass the cultural test remains to be seen.
Producers must secure an interim cultural certificate before filming begins, allowing them to claim credits during production rather than waiting until wrap. A final certificate follows completion. The European Commission has blessed the scheme through December 2028.
Minimum thresholds apply: productions must cost at least €250,000, with eligible expenditure above €125,000. Only one season per project can claim relief in any 12-month period, though producers can juggle multiple projects.
Britain, take note. The UK industry has clamoured for similar support for 18 months, but Westminster has dithered. India’s ministry of information and broadcasting pay heed. Its incentive scheme for co-productions excludes unscripted television. To what end, no one knows! Ireland, meanwhile, is already rolling out the red carpet—or should that be green?
The message from Dublin is clear: when it comes to backing reality TV, Ireland isn’t messing about. Lights, camera, tax action.
