By Michael Torrice
FoodTv.com acts as a great companion to the television network's
programming
but does little to innovate into an independent web experience. The
main goal of the web site is to act as a means of retrieving the recipes
shown on the network's cooking shows. Besides a general search of
a recipe index, users can also look up shows of interest and find
a list of recent segments and the recipes presented on them. Other
options mostly revolve around searching for meals and dishes that
interest the user. One can search by a special ingredient, by occasion,
or even by style of cooking. The site also includes more basic instructional
information. Video is used as a means to demonstrate specific cooking
techniques. Instead of showing the how-to instructions for unique
recipes, these video demos focus on the individual techniques necessary
for many recipes. The only real interactive feature on the site is
the forum and chat feature. Users can discuss their own recipes or
the recipes presented on the site. From tips on certain recipes to
ideas about other possible recipes, these forums serve as a means
to exchange information between users.
The features on the FoodTv.com web site are an excellent means to
enhance the
programming found on the television network. But nothing really differentiates
this site from other recipe sites on the web. Why do people tune into
the network's television shows? Besides an interest in cooking, the
network uses the personalities of the chefs as a means to draw in
viewers. A perfect example of this phenomenon is Chef Emeril Lagasse.
One of the original chefs on the Food Network, his flamboyant personality
led the network to move him to a prime-time, live cooking show. Now
Emeril is a television personality and has been on major network television
programming, such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Amazon.com
commercials. This exposure of Emeril draws people to the Food Network.
But nothing of this nature exists on the FoodTv.com site. The site
is depending on audiences carrying over from their network programming.
For that reason FoodTv.com appears to be no better than similar sites
on the web. Addition of features not found on other recipe sites are
needed to set it apart. What if Emeril gave an interactive cooking
lesson? As he prepares a shrimp gumbo recipe, users could be asked
if they want to know more about the different varieties of shrimp
available or how to pick good quality shrimp out at the market. Much
of the television programming focuses on culture specific cuisine.
Maybe interactive features exploring the historical and cultural aspects
of a recipe could be added to augment information given on the shows.
All web sites can be improved by customizability to individual users,
and this site is no different. Allowing users to ask the site to focus
on specific cuisine or types of dishes, would allow people to better
find recipes suiting their tastes. Basically, FoodTv.com should take
the excitement it puts into its television shows and port it over
to the web to draw a much larger audience.