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
 |
 |
|
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Rodrigue thumbs his way to France, Spain
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Engine Entertainment Targets Spanish-Language Content
WSN
http://www.worldscreen.com/
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/
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
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Engine & Electus Team for Thumb Wars
WSN
http://www.worldscreen.com/
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/
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.
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.”