Sri Lanka’s ITN cooking up local version of MasterChef following Banijay Rights deal

MasterChef’s 71 territories include Australia, where it airs on Network 10

Sri Lankan free-to-air channel ITN has commissioned a local version of MasterChef, bringing Banijay Rights’ hit cookery competition format to its 71st territory.

MasterChef Sri Lanka will launch this September with a 25-episode first-season run, produced by Reality TV Production in association with Nilendra Deshapriya Productions.

The show sets out on a nationwide quest to find the best amateur cook across Sri Lanka through tough individual and team challenges, with the amateur cooks judged by some of the country’s top chefs and distinguished food critics.

The season’s winner will receive three million Sri Lankan rupees (US$10,065) in cash, a luxury vehicle and the coveted MasterChef trophy.

The deal was negotiated by Rashmi Bajpai, executive VP of sales for Asia at Banijay Rights.

Priyantha Wedamulla, chairman of ITN, said: “This globally celebrated culinary format will see aspiring chefs showcase their talent, passion and creativity, marking a new chapter in Sri Lankan television history. We look forward to delivering the MasterChef experience with the quality and excellence our viewers expect.”

Created by Franc Roddam and first launched in 1990, the MasterChef brand is known across the globe, with commissions across 71 markets, over 700 seasons and more than 16,000 episodes to date.

In related news, Banijay Branded Entertainment (BBE) and And So Production have formed a strategic alliance to focus on premium branded storytelling.

Founded by Solene Marvian, And So Production specialises in commercials, films and fashion shoots across the UK and France, with recent clients including luxury French footwear company Manfield.

BBE, led by Carlotta Rossi Spencer, global head of branded entertainment business development at Banijay, helps the European production and distribution giant create branded content around the world.

Recent examples include Dare To Defy (Nissan for Amazon’s Prime Video), Mission Unknown: Atlantic (Samsung, HOLY and yfood for YouTube/Prime Video), Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds (E.ON Next for Channel 4), Maître Chocolatier (Lindt for TV8), The World Cook (TUI for Prime Video) and Jeremy Pang’s Hong Kong Kitchen (Hong Kong Tourism Board for ITV).