Electus launches distribution arm

Ben Silverman’s multimedia prodco Electus has launched an international distribution arm, and has appointed another former Reveille and Shine International executive to run it.

John Pollak has been named president of Electus International, having previously been executive VP of Shine International and before that senior VP of international distribution and creative affairs at Reveille International.

The appointment reunites Pollak not only with Silverman, who set up Reveille in 2002 and later sold it to Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group, but also Chris Grant, the former president of Reveille International and Shine International. Grant was appointed CEO of Electus in September last year.

In his new role Pollak is responsible for distribution of Electus’s programming as well as programmes and formats from other third-party providers. Eli Shibley, as director of international media and formats for Electus, will also be working closely with Pollak in building the division.

The launch of Electus International will mean Pollak is looking for staff to create a sales team, he told C21. “We’re staffing up and we’re also letting the world know that a new distributor is in town looking for content.” The distribution arm is a wholly owned subsidiary of IAC-backed Electus.

The launch of the new division mean that Electus’s year-old distribution alliance with LA-based Engine Entertainment is over, though Engine – led by president Chris Philip – will remain closely connected to Electus via a first-look deal, Grant said. Philip will now “work alongside John to further develop Electus’s international scripted slate,” he said.

“The Electus global business model relies heavily on the best in both international distribution and acquisitions. We are aggressively seeking out companies to invest in, both in the US and the UK, and one of our most important selling points is that we are not beholden to any sister companies in our distribution efforts,” said Grant.

While at Reveille and Shine, Grant and Pollak were behind the global distribution of non-scripted formats including Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, The Biggest Loser, American Gladiators, The Moment of Truth, MasterChef and Shine International’s first scripted network series, The Listener.