Engine to Sell Glenn Martin, DDS Abroad

October 12, 2010 by Thomas J. McLean – Animation Magazine

Glenn Martin, DDS has had success driving with his family across the United States in an RV, and now will be heading overseas.

The Tornante Co., which produces the animated Nick at Night comedy series, has announced Engine Entertainment will represent the series worldwide.

Currently airing its second season on Nick at Night, the series is the first from Tornante, which is owned by former Paramount and Disney executive Michael Eisner.

“The popularity of Glenn Martin, DDS continues to grow as new audiences abroad have embraced the show,” said Eisner. “Engine Entertainment’s deep relationships with international broadcasters will help bring the Martins to millions of additional households around the world.”

The project was brought to Engine by Phil Schuman of Highview Media, and brokered by Doug Miller at Tornante

Glenn Martin set for world tour

US-based indie Engine Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights to Glenn Martin DDS, Nickelodeon's stop-motion series from Michael Eisner's TornanteAnimation.

The series, Tornante's first television show, is now in its second season on Nick's adult-skewed programming block Nick at Nite. It follows the exploits of a dentist and his family who leave their suburban home to go on a cross-country tour. Sky1 HD in the UK and Aussie cablenet Fox8 acquired the show this year.

Engine's programming currently includes Baywatch creator Greg Bonann's new beach drama Pt Dume, revealed last month by C21; interactive format Thumb Wars; and the Bellator Fighting Championship. The latter was last month sold to networks including Australian pay-TV channel Foxtel Main Event, MVS Multi Vision in Mexico, France's AB Media and Finland's Nelonen.

Engine CEO Chris Philip said the deal boosted his company's late-night entertainment distribution slate.

Glenn Martin's animator, Eric Fogel, created MTV series Celebrity Death Match, while the writing team's credits include King of the Hill and Just Shoot Me.


Jesse Whittock
13 Oct 2010
© C21 Media 2010

Engine Sells MMA Fare

Engine Sells MMA Fare

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: September 28, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment has notched up new deals for the mixed martial arts Bellator Fighting Championships with broadcasters in Australia, Mexico, France, Finland, Southeast Asia and Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bellator is a style of MMA that allows fighters to control their own destiny by eliminating the subjectivity of matchmaking, and replicating the objectivity of virtually every other professional sport. The fighting program has been licensed to Foxtel Main Event in Australia, MVS Multi Vision channels in Mexico, AB Media channels in France, Channel 4/Nelonen in Finland, KIX and THRILL in Southeast Asia, and to Setanta for its channels in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Bellator is also available to Internet viewers in Japan, and Engine is in discussions with free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters, pay-per-view and VOD platforms and mobile services worldwide. Bellator, currently in its third season, airs on Fox Sports Net in the U.S. and The Score in Canada.

“Bellator’s popularity and impressive ratings in the U.S. are being noticed on a global scale, its demand from the MMA purists is traveling fast, and the production quality, along with the added value in each event, is attracting broadcasters worldwide,” said Engine Entertainment’s CEO, Chris Philip.

Tribune Picks Up 'Pt. Dume' For Weekends

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/457411-Tribune_Picks_Up_Pt_Dume_For_Weekends.php

First-run weekly hour to premiere fall 2011

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/21/2010 3:20:19 PM

Tribune Television has picked up Pt. Dume, a new weekly hour from Twentieth Television, to premiere on Saturday nights on its stations next fall. With the Tribune sale, the series is sold in 30% of the country.

"Now that our CW stations are offering five nights per week of original programming, we are looking to add a 6^th night. Pt. Dume is the perfect complement to our existing prime line-up," said Sean Compton, Tribune's president of programming, in a statement.

Pt. Dume, about a group of troubled teenagers who are involved in a unique and intense detention program, is created and will be executive produced by Gregory Bonann, who created Baywatch, one of the most successful hours in syndication history. Twentieth Television, Engine Entertainment and QED have partnered on the series, with Twentieth Television handling domestic distribution and Engine handling international distribution. The project was packaged by Paradigm, with Michael Gendler brokering the deal.

Pt. Dume is the first first-run weekly hour to be produced for syndication since Disney-ABC introduced Legend of the Seeker in 2008. The Tribune stations also first cleared that show, which Tribune declined to renew in March.

Engine Launches New U.S. Action Series from Baywatch Creator

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/27017

Engine Launches New U.S. Action Series from Baywatch Creator

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: September 21, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment has entered into a partnership with Twentieth Television and QED International for the new U.S. syndicated seriesPt Dume, from Baywatch creator Gregory Bonann.

Engine will handle the worldwide distribution outside of the U.S., and will be looking for presales for the series at MIPCOM. Bonann will also attend of behalf of the series. Twentieth Television is handling the U.S. distribution, and has sold the series Tribune Broadcasting Stations in the top ten markets.

Co-created by Bonann, who also serves as executive producer, the series is set at Pt Dume, a secluded beach on Malibu's shoreline. The show follows a group of teenagers who, for varying reasons, are now facing expulsion at their school for their potentially life-changing mistake. Three heroes—a lifeguard, a firefighter and a U.S. coastguard—have created a unique detention program in attempt to turn their lives around.

“Pt Dume marks the return of a significant winning formula for which there is always a demand internationally,” commented Chris Philip, the chief executive of Engine Entertainment. “It’s the perfect team to ensure a successful global rollout and we are thrilled to be part of it.”

“I could not be more excited about my return to the beach to tell stories with life and death stakes,” commented Bonann. “The show is about young reluctant heroes at a crossroads—their next steps will change their lives…one way or the other.”

Bellator Fighting Championships Signs Undefeated Serbian Middleweight Dragan “Gagi” Tesanovic

CHICAGO, Ill. (August 18, 2010) - Top European Middleweight prospect Dragan "Gagi" Tesanovic has officially been added to the Bellator Fighting Championships roster.

Tesanovic brings a perfect 7-0 record to the promotion with five wins coming via TKO or KO. Tesanovic regularly displays a dangerous clinch game and very technical ground skills.

One of the fastest rising prospects at 185 lbs, Tesanovic was recently named one of the top ten European prospects.

"Dragan Tesanovic has tremendous potential to become a dominant middleweight," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "His diverse training regime and quickly progressing skill-set set the table for him to make substantial impact in our 185 division.

Although he only has four years of formal MMA training under his belt, Tesanovic has yet to taste defeat in the cage. Before getting into MMA Tesanovic regularly participated in Serbian submission fighting competitions of which he holds five-first-place finishes.

The Serbian standout also holds an impressive win over Polish Judo fighter Antoni Chmielewski.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/Bellator.

Bellator Season 3 Underway with Electrifying Night of Fights at Bellator 24 in Hollywood, Fla.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (August 12, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships kicked off its highly anticipated third season tonight in front of a boisterous crowd at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Once again fans were treated to a full card of electrifying fights that included shocking finishes in nearly every fight.
In the night's main event Bellator Middleweight Cham

pion Hector Lombard took on former NFL player Whisper Goodman in a non-title Super Fight. In his last outing Lombard needed just six seconds to KO his opponent, this time it took only 38 seconds. Lombard overwhelmed his opponent early with right hook that wobbled Goodman before following up with a brutal flurry that left Whisper unconscious on the canvas just 38 seconds into round one.

When asked about his ability to take opponents out early Lombard stated," I train hard, I train hard every day as hard I can."

"I'm a knock-out artist, this is what I do"

Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney echoed his previous sentiment about Bellator's Middleweight Champion.

"I think Hector Lombard is the best middleweight in the world. I believe he beats anybody he steps in the cage with," said Rebney.

In an opening round World Heavyweight Tournament fight British knockout artist Neil "The Goliath" Grove took on UFC Veteran Eddie Sanchez. Grove's striking skills were on display early when he connected with a devastating left hand that sent Sanchez to the canvas. Grove followed up with brutal ground and pound before eventually letting a weary Sanchez back to his feat. Standing, Grove continued to batter Sanchez with precise strikes that eventually forced the referee to halt the fight less than a minute into the opening round.

.In Season 3 Women's Tournament quarterfinal action, female pound-for-pound queen Megumi Fujii met late tournament replacement Carla Esparza. Fujii elected to stand and trade early with the wrestling specialist. The fight hit the ground for the first time midway through the first round with "Mega Megu" going for an ankle lock that Esparza painstakingly twisted out of. Round 2 saw Fujii bring Esparza down early and secure a slick fight ending arm-bar just 57 seconds into round 2 with the Japanese sensation again flexing her submission skills and subsequently improving her record to 21-0 while moving on to the Semi-final round of the tournament.
Also in Women's Tournament action South Florida native Jessica Aguilar took on Lynn "Lights Out" Alvarez. Aguilar easily took Alvarez down early in the first round where she transitioned between ground and pound and submission attempts while in side guard. Aguilar was eventually able to secure an Arm Triangle Choke at 4:01 into the first round.

."Winning in front of my fans is all I could ask for," said Aguilar. "I was planning to finishing it as quickly as possible with little energy expended and no injuries."

The Local Feature Fight between hometown favorite Luis "Baboon" Palomino and dangerous MMA veteran Yves Edwards proved to be an entertaining match-up with back and forth action that left Edwards with his hand raised after three rounds. Edwards now holds an astounding 38 wins in his MMA career.
"Tonight proved to be another great night of fights at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. We love coming here and can not wait for our return in October when Hector Lombard will face Alexander Shlemenko for the Bellator Middleweight Championship," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.
You can catch Bellator 24 action-packed highlight shows on NBC late Saturday nights.

Local Feature Fights:
Tulio Quintanilla def. Brian Eckstein - KO (Punches) 2:48 - Round 3
Farkhad Sharipov def. Eric Luke - Unanimous Decision

About Bellator Fighting Championships:
:Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator's founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships' executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

Video Interview: Engine Entertainment's Michel Rodrigue

Video Interview: Engine Entertainment's Michel Rodrigue

Published: July 7, 2010

NEW YORK: Michel Rodrigue, who serves as a distribution consultant for Engine Entertainment's format division, talks in this video interview about the global appeal of the interactive format Thumb Wars and how its use of technology lends itself to built-in advertising, sponsorship and digital integration.

Engine Entertainment recently announced its first pickups for Thumb Wars, with Spain's Zebra Produccionnes and France's Rosnay International now on board. The interactive game show involves smart-phone technology to drive the action, as contestants use apps to receive clues on their quest to find hidden treasure. In each stand-alone episode, four new teams set out on a day-long adventure. The journey takes them to historically relevant locations, making the format easily adaptable for all markets. Engine Entertainment, which was recently launched by former Power exec Chris Philip, is taking the format worldwide, and is co-producing the project alongside Ben Silverman's Electus for the U.S.

Thumb Wars Picked Up in Spain, France

By Kristin Brzoznowski
Published: June 24, 2010
Wordscreen.com

LOS ANGELES: Spain’s Zebra Produccionnes and France’s Rosnay International have signed up for the interactive format Thumb Wars from Engine Entertainment.

Zebra and Rosnay will package the format for their respective markets to involve TV networks, advertising, sponsorship and digital integration. The interactive game show involves Smart Phone technology to drive the game. Contestants use apps to receive clues for their quest to find hidden treasure. In each stand-alone episode, four teams set off on a day-long adventure. The journey takes them to historically relevant locations across the country.

“The demand for Thumb Wars has been remarkable and its unique content with natural product integration means our partners must be able to package creatively,” said Michel Rodrigue, format distribution consultant at Engine. "Both partners we have chosen in France and Spain offer this ability."

The format was originally created and produced by Stimulii and broadcast on SABC in South Africa. Engine, recently launched by Chris Philip, handles worldwide distribution for Thumb Wars, and is co-producing the project alongside Ben Silverman’s Electus for the U.S.

Rodrigue thumbs his way to France, Spain

South African interactive gameshow format Thumb Wars is heading into France and Spain, through deals sealed by Engine Entertainment and its format consultant Michel Rodrigue.

The format has been picked up by Zebra Producciones of Spain, which is in the final stages of selling it to a local broadcaster, as well as French prodco Rosnay International, which is starting to develop it for the French market.

As well as seeking broadcasters for the format, Zebra and Rosnay will partner with telcos and sponsors to bring the format to life in each of their markets. Former Distraction Formats chiefRodrigue said the format offered "natural product integration opportunities" that producers "must be able to package creatively."

Created and produced by Stimulii and broadcast on SABC in South Africa, the format has contestants using smartphone apps to receive clues for a quest to find hidden treasure. It was picked up for the US market by Ben Silverman's Electus during MipTV.

Ed Waller
24 Jun 2010
© C21 Media 2010

Engine Entertainment Targets Spanish-Language Content

WSN

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/25819

Engine Entertainment Targets Spanish-Language Content

By Mansha Daswani

Published: June 8, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment, founded earlier this year by ex-Power executive Chris Philip, has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Mexico's Bross Al Cuadrado to produce and distribute Spanish-language programming.

The new venture, Engine Latino, will be run out of Mexico City and supervised by Paulette Bensussen, Engine's senior VP of sales and business development, who brokered the deal. Engine will provide worldwide distribution services for all Engine Latino TV production. Bross, meanwhile, will handle production services and advertising and sponsorship partnerships.

“The Bross Brothers have a proven track record of award-winning success," stated Philip, chief executive of Engine Entertainment. “Their advertiser relationships coupled with their tremendous production skills make them an ideal partner to address the growing worldwide demand for innovative Spanish-language programming.”

“Chris Philip and the Engine Team is a perfect partner for us as they have a global distribution reach and access to exciting, creative projects,” commented Beto Bross, partner at Bross Al Cuadrado. “Together we will source, produce, and distribute TV product across all platforms, while applying a unique business model in the process.”

Engine starts in Latin America

C21

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=5&article=55924

Engine starts in Latin America

Chris Philip's new transatlantic production/distribution outfit Engine Entertainment has set its sights on Latin America, partnering with a local production company to create programming in the region.

Engine Latino is a new 50/50 joint venture between Philip's US- and UK-based company and Bross el Cuadrado, a Mexican prodco best known for its feature films. Engine will act as distributor, while Bross will offer production services and local contacts.

The JV will be run out of new offices in Mexico City, with Engine's senior VP of sales and business development Paulette Bensussen - who brokered the agreement - supervising operations.

Philip, Engine's CEO, said Bross's advertiser relationships and production knowledge would help to address "the growing worldwide demand for innovative Spanish-language programming."

It is the first international JV for Engine, which was launched at MipTV in April. Philip created the group after leaving his role as global distribution chief at UK drama indie Power last year.

Engine has since tapped Ganesh Entertainment for Bensussen and Michele Rodrigue as format distribution consultant at its Engine Formats division. It is also coproducing and distributing interactive treasure hunt gameshow Thumb Wars with Ben Silverman's multimedia studio, Electus.

Jesse Whittock
8 Jun 2010
© C21 Media 2010

Engine & Electus Team for Thumb Wars

WSN

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/25116

Engine & Electus Team for Thumb Wars

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: April 10, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment and Ben Silverman’s Electus have signed a deal to co-produce the U.S. format for the interactive treasure-hunt game show Thumb Wars.

The reality competition format will be packaged for the U.S. market to involve network, advertising and digital integration. The interactive game show involves contestants who use Smart Phone apps to receive clues for their quest to find a hidden treasure. Each stand-alone episode features four new teams who set off on a day-long adventure.

"Electus is scouring the world for next generation entertainment and Thumb Wars is a groundbreaking program utilizing everyone's most important means of communication and connection, their PDA's,” said Ben Silverman, the CEO of Electus. “We will utilize our unique expertise in the digital age to marry this great content to consumers.

“Ben and his team move fast and understand complex product and digital integration, they are an ideal partner for this unique format,” added Chris Philip, the chief executive of Engine Entertainment.

“Ben’s vision for this unique and successful South African format from Stimulii will transcend all that’s been done in the U.S.A. so far as multiplatform technology is concerned,” commented Michel Rodrigue, a distribution consultant for Engine Entertainment.

Electus takes Thumb Wars to US

C21

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=89&article=54999

Electus takes Thumb Wars to US

Ben Silverman's Electus has entered an agreement with newly launched Engine Entertainment to coproduce a US version of interactive treasure hunt gameshow Thumb Wars.

The format, which relies heavily on the use of smartphones, is Engine's first and has been taking a 31% overall market share on South African network SABC. Local producer Stimulii makes the show. Electus is currently seeking network, advertising and digital media partners in the US.

"Electus is scouring the world for next generation entertainment and Thumb Wars is a groundbreaking programme utilizing everyone's most important means of communication and connection - their PDAs," said Silverman.

Electus Distribution was formed in February this year by Silverman and some of his former Reveille colleagues from his time as co-chair of NBC Entertainment. Engine is the fledgling production and distribution outfit set up by former Power distribution chief Chris Philip.

"Ben's vision for this unique and successful South African format from Stimulii will transcend all that's been done in the US so far as multi-platform technology is concerned," claimed Engine distribution consultant Michel Rodrigue.

Jules Grant
9 Apr 2010
© C21 Media 2010

Electus, Engine team for "Thumb Wars"

THR

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i25d5a034c5bd6dc58a6804286878e8d4

Electus, Engine team for 'Thumb Wars'

Interactive treasure hunt gameshow using smartphones

By Elizabeth Guider

April 9, 2010, 06:30 AM ET

Ben Silverman's newly formed company Electus is partnering with a newly formed U.S. producer-distributor, Engine Entertainment, on an interactive treasure hunt gameshow called "Thumb Wars."

The partners will package the hybrid reality competition format in the U.S. marketplace to involve network, advertising and digital integration.

"Thumb Wars," which is originally a South African show, relies heavily on a smart phone to completely drive the game, which offers an untapped digital platform for advertisers and electronic applications.

"Electus is scouring the world for next-generation entertainment and 'Thumb Wars' is a groundbreaking program utilizing everyone's most important means of communication and connection -- their PDA's," said Electus CEO Silverman, who is the former head of NBC's network television operations.

Engine CEO Chris Philip and company consultant Michel Rodrigue as well as Silverman will serve as executive producers of the American version.

The game involves contestants who use Smart Phone apps to receive clues for their quest in finding a hidden treasure. In each standalone episode, four new teams of cross-generational contestants set off on a day-long adventure, following a series of hi-tech clues that explore the history of their country.

Created and produced by Stimulii Prods. and broadcast on SABC in South Africa, the reality/gameshow has averaged a 31% overall market share in that territory. Engine will handle worldwide distribution for the format beginning at MIPTV.

Paulette Bensussen joins Engine Team

Engine Entertainment Adds to Team

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: April 7, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Engine Entertainment has hired Paulette Bensussen as senior VP of sales and business development, to be based in New York and report to CEO Chris Philip.

Bensussen will be tasked with managing Engine's international programming sales as well as developing new business opportunities with networks and producers. Bensussen is adding programming across all genres—including reality, health and lifestyle—to Engine's catalogue. In addition to a range of formats, Bensussen is bringing more than 400 hours of Ecuavisa's telenovelas. Before joining Engine, Bensussen founded Ganesh Entertainment, a consulting, production and distribution firm. Prior to founding Ganesh, she was the executive director of international development at Scripps Network.

“Paulette blends tremendous business acumen with creative instinct for what sells, with access to content that travels across the world,” said Philip.

“Joining Engine is an incredibly organic fit,” commented Bensussen. “I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this amazing team. We have vast and diverse experience in developing television business around the globe, making Engine a one-of-a-kind organization, with the know-how and infrastructure to create and deliver attractive business opportunities for networks and producers worldwide.”

Paulette Bensussen joins as senior VP of sales and business development

C21

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=54942

Engine steams ahead with sales appointment

Engine Entertainment, the fledgling production and distribution outfit set up by TV sales veteran Chris Philip, has made another hire, bringing the founder of Ganesh Entertainment to its sales team.

Paulette Bensussen joins as senior VP of sales and business development, reporting directly to CEO Philip. She is responsible for looking after Engine's international sales catalogue. She brings with her reality, health and lifestyle shows such as HGTV's Holmes on Homes, and over 400 hours of telenovela programming. She will also work globally on developing new business with networks and prodcos.

Bensussen formed New York indie Ganesh in 2007, and went on to work with Al Gore's Current TV network. Before then, she was executive director of international development at Scripps Networks, where she worked on the global expansion of its IPTV services.

Her hire comes on the back of Engine's appointment of Michel Rodrigue, the former CEO of Distraction Formats, in a consultancy role that will see him take Engine's first format Thumb Wars to MipTV. The show has been taking a 31% overall market share on South African network SABC.

Engine, which former Power distribution chief Philip set up last month, has a debut distribution slate that includes The Bellator Fighting Championships, Young Hollywood and two shows from the Zalman King Collection.

Jesse Whittock
7 Apr 2010
© C21 Media 2010

Chris Philip Sets Up Engine Entertainment

WSN

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/24804

Chris Philip Sets Up Engine Entertainment

By Mansha Daswani

Published: March 23, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Chris Philip, most recently president of worldwide sales at Power, has set up a new international production and distribution company, Engine Entertainment, that officially launches at MIPTV.

The new venture will represent a library of content across all genres and will co-produce projects on a global scale. “We will leverage our unique relationships with the world’s top producers, advertisers, and content delivery platforms, offering them bespoke global co-production and distribution services, to deliver programming across all television genres” said Philip, the new company's chief executive. “We will offer cost- effective production alternatives and quick-to-market distribution strategies for our partners and clients, while delivering quality content for worldwide audiences." Philip will be tapping into the experience he gained at Power, where he worked with chairman and CEO Justin Bodle on driving the company's U.S. series business with projects like Crusoe.

The MIPTV slate includes The Bellator Fighting Championships franchise, Young Hollywood, two series from The Zalman King Collection and titles from the Halloween horror film. Engine is also pitching two scripted action-adventure series and two event mini-series ready for global co-production packaging.

Philip started his television career at Alfred Haber Distribution before moving on to Polygram/ITC, where he stayed through various mergers and acquisitions, eventually rising to head up distribution to Latin America at NBC Universal International Television Distribution.

Variety Mention

VARIETY

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016785.html?categoryId=14&cs=1

Philip powers Engine

Exec to unveil TV shingle at Mip

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Philip

Former Power sales/distribution prexy Chris Philip has formed a new shingle, which he’ll unveil next month at the Mip TV confab.

Engine Entertainment has acquired several titles to sell at the TV market, including Fox Sports Net’s “Bellator Fighting Championships.”

Show, now in its second season, attaches a tournament-style setup to mixed martial artist matches. NBC also airs weekly highlights of the MMA bouts.

Engine has also packaged episodes of “Red Shoe Diaries” and “Chromumblue.com” as “The Zalman King Collection.” Other titles include the entertainment series “Young Hollywood” and three of the “Halloween” movies, including the original.

Philip said he plans to co-produce international projects and also represent outside programs and brands in the marketplace.

“(Engine) will offer cost-effective production alternatives and quick-to-market distribution strategies for our partners and clients,” he said.

Company will open offices in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and London

At Power, Philip helped bring two series to NBC—including “Crusoe,” which he co-exec produced. Prior to Power, he was VP of NBC Universal International.

Bellator Fighting Championships aligns with Engine Entertainment

Around the Octagon

http://www.aroundtheoctagon.com/?p=3504

« HDNet to broadcast exclusive coverage of “Mark Burnett presents: King of the Cage – Legacy”

Bellator Fighting Championships aligns with Engine Entertainment to distribute Bellator programming internationally

The international production and distribution company Engine Entertainment has completed an agreement with Bellator Fighting Championships to handle the exclusive worldwide distribution (excluding US and Canada) for this first-of-its-kind mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

With its unique tournament format, Bellator allows fighters to control their own destiny by eliminating the subjectivity of matchmaking and replicating the objectivity of virtually every other professional sport. Guided by this concept, Bellator produces a unique, exciting, competitive and entertaining brand of MMA programming that is based on the most successful real-sports, objective competition format.

Bellator has taken the U.S. by storm since it debuted in April 2009 on ESPN Deportes. Due to the success of its first season, Bellator returns for its second and third seasons with one of the largest domestic television distribution alliances in fighting sports history, including 24 live events on Fox Sports Net (reaching 92 Million homes), with weekly highlight shows on both NBC (112 million homes) and Telemundo (62 Million homes) – bringing Bellator to virtually every home in the U.S.

In addition, Bellator will be broadcast across Canada through an alliance with The Score sports network.

Engine Entertainment is exclusively distributing the twenty-four 2010 season live events, plus all additional premium pay-per-view events that Bellator produces, worldwide (outside of the US and Canada) as well as the twelve previously aired 2009 Bellator Season 1 shows.

“With fighters from across the globe, Bellator has produced some of the most electrifying moments in MMA history,” said Chris Philp, Chief Executive, Engine Entertainment. “Bellator will thrill audiences in every country and we are excited to be distributing this successful nationally televised sports franchise worldwide.”

Said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney: “Bellator is very pleased to be working with Engine Entertainment—a dynamic and accomplished player in the highly competitive international programming sales industry. With some of the best fighters from every corner of the globe and a unique format that allows fighters to truly control their own destiny, we are confident that our real-sport format will enjoy success internationally that equals or exceeds the success we have had to date here in the U.S.”

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

About Engine Entertainment

Engine Entertainment, with offices in LA, New York, Miami, and London, is the new force in international TV distribution and production, with a management team with top-level experience in the global TV industry, high-level contacts across the world’s TV markets, and in-depth knowledge of international co-production structures. Engine Entertainment achieves worldwide penetration across all platforms and cost-effectively creates and delivers inspiring quality entertainment for worldwide television audiences. www.engine-entertainment.com

Michel Rodrigue Pacts with Engine Entertainment

Michel Rodrigue Pacts with Engine Entertainment

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: March 29, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Michel Rodrigue, a veteran in the international formats industry, has entered into an exclusive agreement with the newly formed outfit Engine Entertainment to serve as distribution consultantfor its formats division, Engine Formats.

Under the terms of the exclusive consulting agreement, Rodrigue will work closely with Engine's management team, led by chief executive Chris Philip, to develop the company's specialized formats division and seek out properties for worldwide distribution. Rodrigue is often referred to as "The Father of Formats," as he was key in the launch of the first-ever Television Format Market at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. He founded Distraction Formats in 1997.

At MIPTV, Engine will be showcasing the interactive Smart Phone treasure-hunt game show Thumb Wars. In each stand-alone episode, four new teams of cross-generation contestants head out on a day-long adventure, following a series of hi-tech clues that explore the history of their country.

“We are delighted to be in business with Michel and could not ask for someone more respected in the industry to help us build our formats division,” said Philip. “Michel’s experience and innovation that he brings to the formats field is second to none.”

“I’m thrilled to have found such a unique format that combines cutting-edge phone technology and history in a game filled with tension and drama,” commented Rodrigue. “I’m confident that Chris and his team at Engine Entertainment will take this to a quick international success.”

Michel Rodrigue

Rodrigue plays Thumb Wars Michel Rodrigue, former CEO of ill-fated Distraction Formats, has signed up as a distribution consultant for the new production company set up by former Power distribution chief Chris Philip. Rodrigue (left) has entered into an exclusive agreement with Engine Entertainment to launch the company's first format: Thumb Wars. Rodrigue will be shopping the property at MipTV next month. The format "combines cutting-edge phone technology and history in a game filled with tension and drama," said the former Distraction man. It has contestants using smartphone apps to receive clues for a quest to find hidden treasure. Created and produced by Stimulii and broadcast on SABC in South Africa, the reality/gameshow has averaged 31% overall market share with peaks at 41% in adults 25-34, said Engine, which has worldwide rights to the format. 29 Mar 2010 © C21 Media 2010