NBCU FORMATS’ “TOP CHEF” RETURNS TO BRAZIL AND PANAMA

NBCUniversal Formats’ Emmy award-winning franchise “Top Chef” is set to return to screens in Brazil and Panama this year, after the division signed a deal with entertainment company Floresta – a joint venture between Executive Producer Elisabetta Zenatti and Sony Pictures Television, for a second season of the show, which will air on Record TV. Season two will see the return of world renowned chef Felipe Bronze at the helm, with French chef Emmanuel Bassoleil and food journalist Ailin Aleixo also returning to form the jury.

Furthermore, multimedia company Medcom has also signed a deal with NBCUniversal Formats for a fifth season of “Top Chef” and a second season of spin off show “Top Chef Junior” in Panama. Produced in-house, the local versions will air on leading network Telemetro. “Top Chef Junior” made its debut in Panama last summer with great success, marking the first international version of the show. Spin off “Top Chef All-Stars” also aired on the network last summer, receiving critical acclaim. 

"Top Chef" remains one of NBCUniversal Formats’ biggest successes, with 24 adaptations worldwide and a variety of international spin offs. It has performed well across other Latin American countries including El Salvador and Mexico, with the latter receiving an International Emmy nomination in 2018. In addition to Canal Sony, “Top Chef México” also aired on NBC’s US Hispanic channel Universo. Other versions include “Top Chef Middle East,” currently in its fourth season on MBC1, and the 11th season of “Top Chef France” is set to air on M6 in late January. Further international versions include Spain, Italy, Canada, Thailand and Vietnam.

“‘Top Chef’ is one of our most successful formats that continues to capture millions of viewers all over the world, particularly across Latin America. These deals are a testament to our continued commitment to the region and we are incredibly proud to be working with such established partners on local versions in Brazil and Panama. The adaptations are produced to such high standards, with high calibre talent. So, we have no doubt they will achieve similar success as previous seasons,”  said Ana Langenberg, SVP of Format Sales & Production at NBCUniversal Formats.

Elisabetta Zenatti, Executive Producer and General Manager of Floresta, commented: “We are preparing a new season with fresh elements, a new house and great contestants. Our judges are ready for new fire!”.

Marcelo Silva, Artistic Vice President of Record TV, also declared: “‘Top Chef’s’ season two will add even more high quality entertainment to Record TV’s reality show line up. The first season was a hit when it comes to ratings and profits, and because of that, we’re excited for another season with this format that mixes a cooking competition with contestants living together in a reality house. This couldn’t stay out of our 2020 programming schedule!”.

Lastly, Gaby Arias, Production Manager at Medcom, expressed: “We are happy to announce our fifth season of ‘Top Chef Panama’. The format has created an extremely faithful audience, which follows us season after season. We also have a large number of commercial partners and advertisers, who continue to renew their contracts with the show, as it provides a good opportunity to advertise and make branded content favorable to their brands. We are also pleased to announce the second season of ‘Top Chef Junior’. It is a three-episode format, which was very favorable with audiences in its first season”.