Embassy Row picks up Japanese cooking format

Sony Pictures Television-owned US prodco Embassy Row has acquired rights to Asahi Broadcasting Corp’s culinary format Wizard Chef.

The deal, scored this week at MIPCOM, sees Embassy row taking on rights to remake the show for the US market, and counts as the first time a series from Japanese regional broadcaster Asahi has closed such a deal.

Wizard Chef sees specialist chefs prepare a three-course meal for a judging based only a number of very basic ingredients.

William Morris Endeavour represents Embassy Row, and will now pitch the show to US broadcasters, while SPT will have international sales on any resultant shows.

Shusaku Inoue, who oversees Asahi’s international operations, told TBI the deal could spur  on sales of new titles such as Picky Eater Saver.