YouTube series wins TV order

ABC in the US has picked up a cookery show funded by YouTube as part of the video site’s original channels push.

The network has commissioned a TV remake of Recipe Rehab, which started life on the YouTube channel Everyday Health earlier this year, to run on 200 ABC-affiliate stations across the US from next month.

The show, in which chefs teach viewers how to cook familiar dishes in a healthy way, was created by veteran TV producer Mark Koops (The Biggest Loser, Masterchef), the former MD of Reveille.

Koops will now exec produce ABC’s version of Recipe Rehab with his prodco Trium Productions. Two of the chefs from the YouTube series will also return to the show, which is set to air on Saturday mornings from October

Alex Carloss, YouTube’s global head of original programming, told Reuters: “Recipe Rehab is the latest example of creators harnessing the combined attributes of TV and the web to build scaled, engaged audiences.”

YouTube launched an initiative in the US last year, pledging a rumoured US$100m in advances to 100 professional content producers. Reports suggest Google will cut its under-performing channels at the end of the year, with plans to expand the scheme into Europe due to be unveiled at Mipcom in Cannes next month.