
Debmar-Mercury has acquired domestic distribution rights to hit Fox reality series Hell’s Kitchen in a deal with its producer ITV Studios. The pact marks the third pairing between Debmar-Mercury and ITV Studios this year. The two companies are also collaborating on the development of the syndicated talk panel show, The Chefs, and a new U.S. first-run version of the highest-rated U.K. daytime talker, The Jeremy Kyle Show. Hell’s Kitchen is produced by ITV Studios in association with A. Smith & Co. Prods.
Fox’s reality guru Mike Darnell is closing in on a 20-year anniversary at the network. Darnell has inked a new three-year contract to continue as president of alternative programming. That will bring his tenure at Fox to a whooping 19 years. … 
