BuzzFeed Australia has expanded its content and platform offering with the launch of a BuzzFeed Food FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel via 10 Play.

The channel is designed to be an always-on food destination for home cooks, offering a continuous stream of non-stop food content. BuzzFeed is recognised for driving social trends and viral recipes, with 8 out of 10 people reportedly making at least one recipe from the BuzzFeed Food network every month.

Val Morgan Digital, the dedicated youth publisher, claims to reach 9.1 million Australians every month, with one-third of its audience regularly watching FAST channels. The BuzzFeed Food FAST channel is expected to offer brands the opportunity to reach Val Morgan Digital’s audiences in a new environment.

"One in 3 Val Morgan Digital audiences watch FAST channels regularly, preferring to watch food-based shows, which is just one of the reasons we’re launching the BuzzFeed Food FAST channel," Amanda Bardas, Publisher at Val Morgan Digital, stated. "BuzzFeed is the engine that drives today’s food culture, and Gen Z and millennial audiences have an insatiable appetite for content. They’re spending almost two hours a day consuming social content alone and the demand for more material is higher than ever before – especially when it comes to food inspiration – with 48% cooking at home every day and 70% making a grocery list before shopping. This industry-first solution will see the BuzzFeed Food FAST channel tap into the zeitgeist of today’s culture.

"These shows already have a strong audience following and now we’ll be able to deliver Australian audiences a 24/7 stream of non-stop food content."

Julia Willing, Growth & Partnership Director at Val Morgan Digital, said research found being a ‘foodie’ is now a central component of the Gen Z identity.

"One in 4 of our audiences are seeking recipe inspiration daily before they shop for groceries. This is a huge opportunity for brands to tap into this hard-to-reach audience which our network is built to connect with. The BuzzFeed Food FAST channel drives inspiration to action and acts as a catalyst for commerce," she said.

"We’ve created key sponsorships, custom product integration and prime time viewing opportunities for brands to reach their audiences and inspire their path to purchase. We’re excited to work with partners to launch new shows and bring to life episodes and segments of existing tentpoles."

The programming for the BuzzFeed Food FAST channel will span over 200 hours of content and will be updated each month with new episodes. Key shows on the channel include Hot Ones, Heat Eaters, The Burger Show, Snacked, Gochi Gang and Tasty.