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Ex-Power exec drives Engine

Chris Philip, the former president of sales and distribution at London-based drama indie Power, has launched his own production company, which will debut at MipTV next month.

Philip has set up Engine Entertainment, a prodco that will focus on international coproductions and distribution across various genres, and he takes up the reigns as CEO. Engine will have bases in London, New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

C21 first reported Philip was leaving Power to create his own venture in September, though he stayed on in a consultancy role until December.

Engine’s distribution slate will include The Bellator Fighting Championships (36×120′), Fox Sports Network’s mixed-martial arts show that is currently in its second season. The firm will also rep four 13×30′ series from US company Young Hollywood; Red Shoe Diaries (66×30′) and Chromiumblue.com (16×30′) from the Zalman King Collection; and three feature films from the Halloween franchise.

Engine’s production slate comprises two scripted action-adventure series and two event miniseries, and Philip is looking for coproduction partners. He said in a statement: “We will leverage our unique relationships with the world’s top producers, advertisers and content delivery platforms, offering them bespoke global coproduction and distribution services, to deliver programming across all television genres.”

Philips’s tenure at Power lead to two NBC pick-ups, including the 13-part series Crusoe, which he also executive produced. Before that he was NBC Universal’s VP in Latin America. Randall Broman replaced him as head of international drama sales at Power in January.

Speculation that Broman’s former employer, US telefilm group RHI Entertainment, is planning a takeover bid of Power now seems unlikely, considering that RHI is in financial difficulties. Power CEO Justin Bodle told C21 today such talks are not taking place. Bodle added that future collaboration between Power and Engine was possible “on a project-by-project basis.”

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