Ben Silverman’s Electus on Friday announced the studio’s international television and digital slate, including deals with Mark Burnett Productions, stylist Patricia Field, actress Vanessa Williams and Sharp Entertainment.
Burnett will be involved in repurposing a Chinese reality/game format, while Field and Williams will take part in a web series.
Silverman will deliver a keynote speech on the global transformation of programming and distribution in the digital era at the Mip TV conference in Cannes on April 13.
Electus, an operating business of IAC, aims to develop high-concept, next-generation programming for global audiences. Electus Distribution, the studio’s international distribution arm established earlier this year in conjunction with Shine International, will handle sales of the international programming slate.
The studio’s U.S. scripted slate will be announced in the coming weeks.
“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,” Silverman said in a statement. “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’ TV and digital programming for international distribution includes "Stylized With Patricia Field," produced in partnership with Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") and her producing partner Michael Gruber. In the web series, 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. (Pictured at left: Field and Williams)
With Mark Burnett Productions ("Survivor") and Swedish-based multiplatform TV developer Bringiton, Electus will co-produce for U.S. TV a version of popular Chinese reality game show "Big Time Spender."
Created by Bringiton, "Big Time Spender" highlights contestants from different backgrounds who compete to be the nation’s smartest shopper. It’s the first Western-developed and -owned format to be successfully produced, broadcast and syndicated in mainland China on CCTV, where it garnered the highest ratings on the network. Martin Gisselman, who created and produced the show in China, is attached to the U.S. version as a producer. Multiple global advertisers participated and more are looking to participate around the world.
"Ready, Set, Dance!," created by Notional execs Cleve Keller and Dave Noll in partnership with Electus, is a first-of-its-kind dance competition series that seamlessly combines the web and television.
Electus also has secured international and U.S. rights to new hit Canadian TV series "Hiccups" from Canada’s Thunderbird Films. Airing on CTV, the show stars Canada’s biggest comedy star, Brent Butt, and his former Corner Gas co-star and real wife, Nancy Robertson. (Pictured at left: Robertson and Butt)
National food showdown "Munch Madness: The National Food Tournament" comes from Sharp Entertainment, creators of Travel Channel’s "Man v. Food." 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 show aims to settle which of the nation’s heralded greasy-spoon landmarks has the best dishes in the country. It’s the first of three projects on which Sharp and Electus are partnering.
Also, as previously announced, Electus signed a distribution partnership with Israel’s Abbot Reif Hameiri Production Company and will its Israeli programming across all platforms in the United States. Likewise, ARH can repurpose Electus’ multiplatform content to sell to the Israeli marketplace.
That deal kicked off with interactive game show "Cuckoo’s Nest," to which Electus secured international and U.S. rights.
Also from ARH, Electus Distribution has obtained international and U.S. rights to "TLV," an Israeli format docudrama following four roommates in their 20s as each gets the job opportunity of a lifetime in entertainment, media and public relations.
More to read:
‘Ugly Betty’ Star Developing Interactive Telenovela With MTV, Ben Silverman
Starz Latest to Partner With Ben Silverman
Ben Silverman’s Back in Business With Shine
Yahoo CEO Touts Ben Silverman Deal
Ben Silverman to Deliver MipTV Keynote
Ben Silverman’s New Company Lines Up Talent for Ad Projects
YouTube’s Hoffner Joins Silverman’s Electus
Silverman’s ‘Electus’ Is Not a Parrot — and He’s Got $125M
IAC Gets Into Content Business
