Banijay Entertainment, a Paris-based international media group, has announced the launch of a local version of the culinary show MasterChef in Uzbekistan.
According to a press release from its distribution arm, Banijay Rights, MasterChef Uzbekistan will air on Zo’r TV, which will broadcast ten episodes. Production will be handled by New Media Group. In parallel, a ten-episode adaptation is also being prepared in Azerbaijan: MasterChef Azerbaijan will air on the state-owned channel Ictimai TV.
The deals for both markets were signed by Alexander Rubanov, Vice President at Banijay Rights for Romania, the CIS, Ukraine, Georgia, the Baltics, and Turkey. He described Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan as “new frontiers” for the franchise and expressed confidence that the projects will attract strong local interest.
Banijay noted that the new versions in Central Asia complement the format’s ongoing global expansion. Created by Franc Roddam and first aired in the United Kingdom in 1990, MasterChef is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most successful culinary format, with more than 750 seasons and over 16,000 episodes worldwide.
