MANILA, Philippines - A+E Networks Asia has greenlighted a pan-regional Asian version of the global hit reality cooking format, MasterChef. MasterChef Asia will debut on Lifetime later this year.
Endemol Shine Group’s Singapore-based production company, Endemol Southeast Asia, has been commissioned to produce the 15-episode series, which will film in Singapore. MasterChef Asia will feature three judges, to be named at a future date, alongside contestants selected from across Asia. Amateur cooks who aspire to be the first-ever MasterChef Asia can submit their audition videos on masterchefasia.com until March 5.
“MasterChef Asia marks an important milestone for A+E Networks Asia,” said Prem Kamath, deputy managing director, Asia-Pacific, A+E Networks. “The series is our most significant local commission to date and is a sign of our commitment to the Asian production community.”
MasterChef Asia is presented by the Singapore Tourism Board and Knorr, in association with Panasonic and Changi Airport Group.
Lynette Pang, asst. chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “We are excited to support this wonderful opportunity together with Changi Airport Group at a time when our dining scene has never been more exciting.”
According to Jason Green, VP marketing at Knorr, “We think that MasterChef is the perfect platform to inspire more people to inject more flavor into their own home-cooked meals and in so doing, elevate the quality of food savored across the subcontinent.”
Junichiro Kitagawa, managing director, Panasonic Asia Pacific, added, “We are excited to see how MasterChef Asia talents can put together healthy, mouth-watering dishes with fresh premium crops locally harvested in our indoor farm and Panasonic cooking appliances.”
Lifetime is the exclusive Pay TV home in Asia for MasterChef versions from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.