Ben Silverman's Multimedia Studio Electus Announces International TV & Digital Programming Slate at MIPTV
By Iac, PRNEThursday, April 8, 2010
Line-up of TV & Digital formats includes exclusive programming deals with Mark Burnett Productions, Israel's Abbott Reif Hameiri Production Company, Vanessa Williams and more -
NEW YORK, April 9, 2010 - Ben Silverman's next generation multimedia studio, Electus, an operating
business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), today announced its upcoming international TV
& digital programming slate in advance of the MIPTV conference in Cannes,
France where Silverman will deliver a keynote speech on the global
transformation of programming and distribution in the digital era on April
13th.
Actively developing television and digital programming for an extensive
line-up of top cable channels, broadcast networks and online entities,
Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite
producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof to develop
all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around
the world. Headed by Silverman, the company connects all parties early on in
the development process, creating better content and enabling marketers and
advertisers to be a true partner throughout the creative process to develop
campaigns.
"We are thrilled to team up with some of the most talented producers,
broadcasters and digital entities to bring to market a compelling slate of
high concept, next generation programming for global audiences," said Ben
Silverman, CEO and founder of Electus. "We are particularly excited as a
number of our projects are truly bridging the gap between traditional
television, the internet and other media platforms which will greatly enhance
the audience experience."
Electus Distribution, the studio's international distribution arm
established in 2010 in conjunction with Shine International, will handle
sales of the international TV and digital programming slate. The new block of
television and digital programming for international distribution includes:
- MUNCH MADNESS: The National Food Tournament: In partnership with Sharp
Entertainment, creators of Travel Channel's smash hit Man v. Food,
Munch Madness is a national food showdown in the vein of the Eurovision
Song Contest where competitors from around the country will compete
across various food divisions in a whirlwind tournament bracket format
played out like a food-fueled, mouthwatering version of March Madness,
the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The show aims to once and for all
settle which of the nation's heralded chowdown joints and greasy spoon
landmarks have the best dishes in the country. This is the first of
three projects that Sharp Entertainment and Electus are partnering on.
- BIG TIME SPENDER: Electus Distribution, Mark Burnett Productions and
Swedish-based multi-platform TV developers Bringiton will co-produce
Big Time Spender, the hugely popular Chinese game show for US
audiences. Created by Bringiton, Big Time Spender, a groundbreaking
Chinese reality game show, which highlights contestants from different
backgrounds who compete to be the nation's smartest shopper, is the
first-ever Western developed and owned format to be successfully
produced, broadcast and syndicated in mainland China on CC-TV where it
garnered the highest ratings on the network. Martin Gisselman, who
created and produced the show in China will remain attached to the US
version as a producer. Multiple global advertisers participated and
more are looking to participate around the world.
- HICCUPS: Electus Distribution has secured the international and U.S.
rights to the new hit Canadian television series, Hiccups, from the
most successful Canadian production company, Thunderbird Films. Airing
on CTV, the show stars Canada's biggest comedy star, Brent Butt, and
his former Corner Gas co-star and real life wife, Nancy Robertson. The
comedy focuses on Millie Upton, a disgruntled children's author with
anger management issues, also referred to as "hiccups," who seeks the
counsel of a bumbling life coach (Brent Butt). Its first time in the
international market, the series is created and executive produced by
Brent Butt.
- READY, SET, DANCE: Created by Notional execs Cleve Keller and Dave Noll
in partnership with Electus, Ready, Set, Dance! is a first-of-its-kind
dance competition series that seamlessly combines the web and
television.
- ABBOTT REIF HAMEIRI PRODUCTION COMPANY: Israel-based Abbot Reif Hameiri
Production Company, the leading production company in Israel, is one of
the first distribution partnerships of Electus Distribution. Under the
terms of the agreement, Electus Distribution will develop Abbot Reif
Hameiri's Israeli programming in the United States across all
platforms, including mobile, internet and TV. Likewise, Abbot Reif
Hameiri has the opportunity to repurpose Electus' multi-platform
content to sell to the Israeli marketplace.
- CUCKOO'S NEST: Electus Distribution has secured the international and
US rights to the Israeli format Cuckoo's Nest, a mega-interactive game
show produced by Abbott Reif Hameiri Production Company. Originally
distributed live from Facebook and via Cellcom, the biggest mobile
carrier in Israel, the next-generation format fuses a virtual home-
based game with a real studio-based game.
- TLV: Electus Distribution has secured the international and US rights
to TLV, an Israeli format docu-drama from Abbott Reif Hameiri
Production Company. The series follows four young people in their
twenties as they each get the job opportunity of a lifetime in the
fast-paced, glamorous world of entertainment, media and public
relations. Living as roommates in the big city, each individual faces
personal and professional challenges that show business and the big
city confronts them with.
- STYLIZED WITH PATRICIA FIELD: Electus has partnered with award-winning
actress Vanessa Williams and her producing partner Michael Gruber to
co-produce Stylized with Patricia Field, a new web series whereby
renowned stylist Patricia Field, the stylistic brain behind Sex and the
City, The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty, becomes an ordinary woman's
fashion fairy godmother, helping them discover their perfect look.
Electus will announce the studio's U.S. scripted slate in the coming
weeks.
About Electus
Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite
producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce
all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around
the world. Headed by Ben Silverman, in partnership with IAC, the company
connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the
development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be a true partner
in campaigns and content creation.
About Electus Distribution
Electus Distribution was formed in 2010 by Ben Silverman's multimedia
studio, Electus, and Shine International, the international distribution arm
of Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Group. The company, run by Silverman and Shine
International President Chris Grant, is a distribution entity that will
handle all international sales for television, motion picture and digital
content.
About IAC
IAC operates more than 50 leading and diversified Internet businesses
across 30 countries… our mission is to harness the power of interactivity
to make daily life easier and more productive for people all over the world.
To view a full list of the companies of IAC please visit our website at
www.iac.com/.
Contact Information:
--------------------
IAC Communications
Leslie Cafferty
+1-212-314-7326
leslie.cafferty@iac.com
Electus
Sunshine, Sachs & Associates
Jessica Berger
+1-212-691-2800
berger@sunshinesachs.com
IAC Communications: Leslie Cafferty, +1-212-314-7326, leslie.cafferty at iac.com; Electus: Jessica Berger, Sunshine, Sachs & Associates, +1-212-691-2800, berger at sunshinesachs.com
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