Electus, Ben Silverman’s new multimedia company, and Shine International, the international distribution arm of Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group, on Tuesday announced the creation of Electus Distribution. The new entity will handle worldwide sales for Electus’ content, including television, motion picture and digital.
Silverman and Shine International president Chris Grant will run Electus Distribution, with operations to be based at Shine International.
Electus, an operating business of IAC, also is increasing operations to handle the growing slate of programming from Electus and its content labels.
In addition to the international distribution partnership, Electus and Shine International will look to co-fund projects and third-party production deals together.
Electus Distribution’s first distribution partnership is with the Israel-based Abbot Reif Hameiri Production Co. Electus Distribution will develop Abbot Reif Hameiri’s Israeli programming in the U.S. across all platforms, and Abbot Reif Hameiri has the option of repurposing Electus’ multiplatform content for the Israeli marketplace.
“This unique collaboration is the first of its kind in Israel, and provides an exceptional opportunity, both for talented artists and for our company," Guy Hameiri, CEO of Abbot Reif Hameiri Production Co., said in a statement. "The industry in Israel is abundant with creative ideas that do not gain development and impact globally. Working with Electus will allow us to provide a proper platform for talented artists and strengthen our presence in the global content market."
As one of its first projects, Electus has secured the rights to bring to the U.S. "Cuckoo’s Nest," a mega-interactive game show on Facebook produced by Abbott Reif Hameiri. Incorporating daily original live broadcasts from within Facebook, "Cuckoo’s Nest" fuses a virtual home-based game with a real studio-based game.
