A+E NETWORKS FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH RACHAEL RAY AND INTENTIONAL CONTENT'S FREE FOOD STUDIOS

New Joint Venture to Produce and Develop 278 Episodes of New Programming Featuring Rachael And New Class Of Epicurean Talent For A+E Networks' Home.Made.Nation Lifestyle Programming Block

January 30, 2024 - New York, NY - A+E Networks has formed a joint venture with Free Food Studios, a new full-service production company formed last year by author, television personality, and philanthropist Rachael Ray along with longtime collaborators Brian Flanagan, Anthony Amoia and Sean Lee of Intentional Content. The transaction, which includes a 50% equity investment by A+E, was jointly announced today by Rob Sharenow, President of Programming, A+E Networks; Rachael Ray; and Brian Flanagan, Principal of Intentional Content and CEO of Free Foods Studios.

Free Food Studios focuses on producing, owning, and distributing "in the kitchen" content created by Rachael Ray and serving as a platform for the introduction and development of new and upcoming epicurean talent.

As part of the new partnership, A+E Networks has ordered 278 new episodes of programming over the next two years from Free Food Studios, featuring Rachael and other talent, to air in A+E's Home.Made.Nation lifestyle programming block, FYI and all other platforms, to be distributed globally by A+E Networks.

"A+E Networks continues to partner with leading content creators and talent as we expand our genre-leading Home.Made.Nation lifestyle programming portfolio, and there is no one more synonymous with culinary programming than Rachael Ray and the team at Free Food Studios," said Sharenow. "The team's expertise and prowess in developing and producing high quality content that viewers crave is second to none and we look forward to working together to bring Rachael and a new crop of talent to A+E Networks and screens around the world across all platforms."

"Today, I just finished writing over 80 pages of recipes and production notes for my groundbreaking new partnership with A+E Networks. I am so excited for this new chapter of my life to open," said Ray. "Viewers can expect to see me cooking in both of my homes, in upstate New York and Tuscany, Italy and creating new shows that will feature an amazing group of diverse and unique culinary talents. We have been working on this partnership for some time and this is just the beginning, so stay tuned."

"When Sean, Anthony and I started Free Food with Rachael, library ownership and scale were crucial to our collective mission statement," said Flanagan. During that same period of time, A+E Networks were great partners in helping us launch Rachael in the home space with Italian Dream Home and Rachael Ray's Rebuild, so when it came time to scale and distribute our expanding food content library, partnering with A+E made complete sense."

All projects produced by Free Food Studios will be executive produced by Rachael Ray in addition to Brian Flanagan, Anthony Amoia and Sean Lee. Home.Made.Nation is A+E Networks' cross-network, cross-platform hub for lifestyle programming, currently available on A&E, FYI and our FAST channels. Home.Made.Nation features series and short from that cover all things DIY, home improvement, home searching, and decor as well as food, cooking and travel and other lifestyle related content. Home.Made.Nation lineup is currently home to series from Rachael Ray and Buddy Valastro, as well as hit home renovation series including Zombie House Flipping and Triple Digit Flip.

Initial series include:

Rachael Ray's Meals in Minutes - 30 x 30m

Rachael demonstrates her creativity and flare from her personal home kitchen, cooking a complete meal in minutes from comfort food to sophisticated fare for entertaining.

Rachael Ray's Tuscany (WT) - 30 x 30m

From her Italian villa in Tuscany, Rachael puts her own unique spin on dishes from the region.

Free Food Studios will focus on developing and creating long and short form content across various platforms. Rachael Ray's collaboration with Free Food Studios adds to her decades experience as a daytime TV host on shows, including her Emmy award-winning daytime show Rachael; Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels; $40 A Day; Rachael Ray's Week In A Day; Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off; and Rachael Ray's Kids' Cook-Off.

Producer Brian Flanagan and the Intentional Content partners have collectively produced over 50 non-scripted series and specials including Emmy nominated Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals (Food Network), Long Island Medium (TLC) and Moonshiners (Discovery). Their most recent projects with Rachael include her home renovation show Rachael Ray's Italian Dream Home on A+E Networks' FYI and Rachael Ray's Rebuild on Hulu.

Salem Partners advised A+E in connection with the transaction.

About A+E Networks

A+E Networks(R) is a global content company comprised of some of the most popular and culturally relevant brands in media, including A&E(R), Lifetime(R), The HISTORY(R) Channel, LMN(R), FYI,(R) and VICE TV(R). A+E Networks' portfolio extends across platforms and genres with a scripted production division, A+E Studios(TM); unscripted productions, Six West Media(TM); and Category 6; and independent film unit, A&E IndieFilms(R). A+E Networks Digital(TM) includes watch apps, games, FAST channels, AVOD, and SVOD products Lifetime Movie Club(R) and HISTORY Vault(R); and podcasts such as History This Week(TM). A+E Consumer Enterprises(TM) includes experiential/branded live events such as HISTORY Travel(R); HISTORYTalks(TM) and E-commerce; and A+E Networks International(R) includes branded channels, content distribution and scripted/unscripted co-productions around the world. A+E Networks' content reaches more than 414 million households in 200 territories in 40 languages. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst. Follow us on X/Twitter at twitter.com/aenetworks and Facebook at facebook.com/AENetworks.

About Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray is a television personality, businesswoman, celebrity cook, philanthropist, and author. She hosted the Emmy-award winning daytime talk show, Rachael Ray, and the FYI series Rachael Ray's Italian Dream Home.

In 2007, Rachael launched a nonprofit organization, Yum-o! that empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. In 2010, she launched the pet foodline Rachael Ray Nutrish, which fully funds The Rachael Ray Foundation whose goal is to support causes that help animals in need, and Yum-o! related initiatives. She also has a line of kitchen items as well as home furnishings. To learn more visit rachaelray.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more cooking inspiration.

About Intentional Content

Intentional Content is a full service production company based in New York City, with a background in producing short and long form premium content. Producing both domestically and internationally, the Emmy Award winning partners have produced for MTV, HGTV, Discovery Channel, TLC, A&E, History, Viceland, OWN, VH-1, HBO, CBS, Fox Sports, ESPN, FoodNetwork, WE, FYI, Travel Channel, Fuse, Fusion and more. Brian Flanagan is an Executive Producer and owner of Intentional Content. From 2009 to 2015, Flanagan founded and served as Managing Partner of Magilla Entertainment and from 2007 to 2009 he was Vice President of Current Series and Development of Original Media. Flanagan has Executive Produced over 50 non-scripted series and specials including hits like Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals (Food Network), Long Island Medium (TLC), Moonshiners (Discovery) and Beachfront Bargain Hunt and How Close Can I Beach (HGTV).