Propagate closes Electus, Artists First deals

Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens’ US prodco Propagate has acquired Silverman’s former company Electus as well as a majority stake in talent management and production firm Artists First.

Ben Silverman

Propagate was founded by Silverman and Owens in 2016 with backing from broadcaster A+E Networks following Silverman’s departure from Electus, which he founded.

It has now taken over Electus, complete with the US production outfit’s content library and international sales division. Artist First’s talent roster and hit shows will also come under the Propagate umbrella.

Run by CEO Chris Grant and chief operating officer Drew Buckley, Electus produces and distributes series including Running Wild with Bear Grylls for NBC, The Toy Box for ABC, Jane the Virgin for The CW and extreme reality series Darkness for Discovery.

The company also contains prodcos Big Breakfast (Adam Ruins Everything, Hot Date) and Notional, producer of the Chopped cooking show franchise on Food Network.

Global distribution division Electus International represents more than 4,000 hours of content sold in more than 220 countries.

Howard T Owens

Electus also produces and distributes original online content and creates marketing and media campaigns for brands and advertisers. The company was founded by Propagate chairman and co-CEO Silverman with the backing of IAC in 2009.

Artists First, led by Peter Principato, produces hit ABC comedy Black-ish and Freeform spin-off Grown-ish, TBS’s The Last OG and ABC’s The Gong Show.

The company’s client roster includes Will Arnett, Jordan Peele, Ed Helms, Tiffany Haddish, Awkwafina, F Gary Gray, John Chu, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michael Showalter, Kate McKinnon, Judy Greer, Neil Marshall, Regina Hall and Kenya Barris. Founded in 2001, the company has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

Financial terms of the two deals were not disclosed. The acquisitions were financed through an investment secured earlier this year from global merchant bank The Raine Group to accelerate Propagate’s global growth through new ventures and targeted acquisitions.