7food network was a short-lived Australian free-to-air television channel owned by the Seven Network which launched on 1 December 2018. The channel marked the start of Seven's new deal with Discovery, Inc., immediately after the end of SBS's previous deal with Discovery which saw the creation of SBS Food in 2015. The channel was a hybrid of the Seven Network and the American Food Network, and featured shows about food and cooking from around the world. The channel ceased broadcasting on 28 December 2019 after garnering lower than expected ratings, and was eventually replaced with a HD simulcast of 7mate on 16 January 2020.
History
On 27 September 2018, SBS announced they would not renew their brand licensing and programming deal with Discovery Inc. ending on 17 November 2018. Their version Food Network channel would be rebranded to SBS Food, and have a refocus on domestic Australian culinary programming rather than the American Food Network's increasing direction towards food-focused reality television and competition programming. Subsequently, on 26 October 2018, Seven announced they had signed their own deal with Discovery Inc. to carry a new domestic version of Food Network launching in December 2018 on channel 74. It would have a similar format to SBS's version, showing a mixture of locally produced cooking shows and Scripps-produced American cooking programs. On 29 October 2018, Seven stated they expected good ratings for the channel and also announced airings of international versions of shows like My Kitchen Rules. On 2 November 2018, the channel was activated, then a 'coming soon' card appeared on 6 November, before a promotional loop appeared on 27 November. On 1 December 2018, the channel was launched at 6:00am with Guy's Grocery Games. On 24 October 2019, it was announced that the channel would be closed after garnering disappointing ratings, along with a lack of commissioned local food programming. The channel switched to an HD feed of 7mate on 28 December 2019. American Food Network content continues to air as a part of the schedules of 7TWO and 7flix.
Programming
The channel aired imports from Food Network including Guy's Grocery Games, Food Network Star, Chopped, , Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Cutthroat Kitchen, Iron Chef America, Best Baker in America, Spring Baking Championship, Kids Baking Championship and Ridiculous Cakes, as well as locally produced shows that were originally shown on the Seven network including My Kitchen Rules, Better Homes and Gardens, Zumbo's Just Desserts, Fast Ed's Fast Food, Anh Does Vietnam, My France with Manu, Around the World with Manu, Manu's American Road Trip, My Ireland with Colin and Aussie Barbecue Heroes.
