Picture format 16:9-4:3 Indovision Indonesia Channel 240 Founded 2005 | Country Singapore CEO Maria Brown (2005–) | |
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Launched 12 August 2005 (as Asian Food Channel) Headquarters Fusionopolis, One-North Business Park, Singapore Website www.asianfoodchannel.com Owned by Scripps Networks Interactive Profiles | ||
The Asian Food Channel (AFC) is a food and lifestyle broadcaster based in Singapore. As the first food TV channel to broadcast pan-regionally in Asia, AFC provides a mix of both Eastern and Western content in a variety of formats. The channel was launched in the middle of 2005 into multiple territories across the region and has since been broadcasting to over 130 million viewers in 13 countries, including: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Contents
History
The Asian Food Channel is co-founded by Singaporean, Hian Goh and Briton Maria Brown, both of whom have experience in business and media. Goh was a founding member of the Salomon Smith Barney Technology investment banking practice in Asia plus a successful entrepreneur founding start-ups in Hong Kong and China, while Brown is a 14-year BBC veteran working in both London and New York having experience in international media production.
Acquiring by Scripps Networks Interactive
On 15 April 2013, Scripps Networks Interactive included the channel into their portfolio of lifestyle-oriented content, which includes HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and country music network Great American Country.
Programming
The channel provides a wide mix of food programming content that are sourced internationally such as the United Kingdom, America (particularly from Canadian productions), Europe, Australia, as well as Asian specific content from Korea, Japan, China, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
Subtitles are provided in almost every programme in this channel, in particular Chinese subtitles. English subtitles are present in non-English language programme, otherwise they are absent. As of Dec 2012, Bahasa Indonesia subtitles for selected programs are also available in Indonesia on local channel providers Indovision, Telkomvision, First Media, Nex Media, Aora TV and Topas TV.
The Asian Food Channel is the same for parts of Asia; and differences are limited to advertising. On most of its feeds except Singapore, the cable or satellite provider insert commercials similar to other channels, following laws that regulate commercials produced from overseas.
The company provides a website where current listings of programming, recipes from the various shows and other programming information can be found.
AFC Studio
AFC Studio was opened in December 2009 at Orchard Central in Singapore. Comprising a retail store, food and beverage outlet, cooking school, events location and a filming studio, the space was intended to provide a touch point for its viewers. However, the Store closed down permanently as of September 2013.