The Food Network and Travel Channel are enjoying record viewership with shows such like "Man v. Food" and "The Next Food Network Star."
"Food can take away the pain,” said Shari Anne Brill, who analyzes audiences for New York-based Carat USA, which buys advertising for Papa John’s International Inc.
She has a point, when people feel uncertainity or face troubled times we tend to seek out those things that ease that discomfort, and perhaps expains the popularity of comfort foods and food shows.
The Food Network's ratings rose 20 percent in July from a year ago because of "The Next Food Network Star."
Since 2004, the prime-time audience for the Food Network has increased 55 percent to 1.06 million viewers nightly from 683,000, according to Nielsen Co. data.
In the 18-to-49 age group that advertisers target, Food Network is up 79 percent in five years.
Travel Channel’s ratings are up 35 percent in August from a year ago, boosted by “Man v. Food” and “Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern.”
Travel Channel’s ratings are up 35 percent in August from a year ago, boosted by “Man v. Food” and “Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern.”
The fifth season finale of “The Next Food Network Star,” drew the biggest audience of all time for the Food Network. The 3.8 million homes measured by Nielsen made it cable’s most-watched show the night of Aug. 2 and the sixth-biggest audience that week.
Travel Channel’s second-season start of “Man v. Food” — in which host Adam Richman highlights U.S. restaurants and competes in eating challenges — drew the largest audience for an original series premiere on the network. The Aug. 5 show was viewed in 1.25 million households.
Travel Channel’s second-season start of “Man v. Food” — in which host Adam Richman highlights U.S. restaurants and competes in eating challenges — drew the largest audience for an original series premiere on the network. The Aug. 5 show was viewed in 1.25 million households.
