News

The Hollywood Radio and Television Society has elected 12 new board members and six new advisory council members, and extended CEO Melissa Grego’s contract through 2025, the organization announced Wednesday.

Newly elected to the Hrts Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in July 2023 are: Kathryn Busby; Ben Davis; Jaime Feld; David Eilenberg (Head of Content – Roku Media); Frank Jung (Co-Founder/Co-head of Digital Media – CAA); Lisa Katz (President, Scripted Content – NBCUniversal); Tim McNeal (Senior Vice President, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion, Disney Television Studios – Disney Entertainment); DJ Nurre (Executive Vice President – Unscripted, Endemol Shine North America); Brett Paul (President, Warner Bros Television – Warner Bros Discovery); Rhonda Price (Managing Partner – The Gersh Agency); Lauren Stein (EVP Drama Development – Sony Pictures Television) and Erin Underhill (President, Universal Television).

Existing board members elected to a new three-year term beginning July 2023 are Kate Adler (EVP,...

Right on the heels of the news that Elon Musk is nearing a deal to buy Twitter, a television documentary about the polarizing businessman has been announced to premiere this May.

Titled “Elon Musk’s Crash Course,” the upcoming film is the latest in FX and The New York Times’ collaborative documentary series “The New York Times Presents,” which provides in depth looks at prominent people and events, ranging from Janet Jackson to Juul to the 2020 Australian bushfire disasters. The series is best known for its two in-depth films about Britney Spears, “Framing Britney Spears” and “Controlling Britney Spears,” which helped contribute to the eventual end of the singer’s conservatorship.

Directed by Emma Schwartz, “Elon Musk’s Crash Course” is an exposé into Musk’s company Tesla, and its work on self-driving cars. Featuring the reporting from Cade Metz and Neal Boudette of The New York Times, the film...

Exclusive: The Eurovision brand continues its North American expansion. Leading Canadian producer Insight Productions, a Boat Rocker company, has teamed with Eurovision Canada rights owners and ASC, Inc., one of the companies behind NBC’s music reality competition series American Song Contest, to debut the first-ever Eurovision Canada in 2023.

Similar to American Song Contest –– which is following the blueprint of the Eurovision Song Contest — Eurovision Canada will feature musical artists and bands from each of the 10 provinces and three territories and across every musical genre, to perform all original songs on the live televised event. The participating artists will go head-to-head against other provincial/territorial representatives in a series of televised Qualifier Competitions, leading to Semi-Finals and the ultimate primetime Grand Finale.

The move follows the recent appointment of Greg Lipstone as President and COO of ASC, Inc., joining producers Anders Lenhoff, Christer Björkman, Ola Melzig and Peter Settman in their expansion efforts,...

Former Propagate president Greg Lipstone is making the move over to oversee American Song Contest Inc. as its president and COO, just days before the ambitious NBC competition series launches on March 21.

An offshoot of the long-running global phenomenon Eurovision, “American Song Contest” will attempt to try something similar in the United States, via song writing and performer competitors representing 56 U.S. states and territories. In taking over the company, Lipstone has been tasked with developing and growing the Eurovision Song Contest internationally via new markets and new revenue streams — including new and existing digital platforms, as well as finding production and broadcast partners in new markets.

“Greg’s unique profile with a combination of entrepreneurship and experience makes him the perfect complement to further expand the ASC footprint,” said Peter Settman, CEO of American Song Contest, Inc. “As one of our executive producers, we liked how he worked, and...

Exclusive: Former Propagate President Greg Lipstone has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of American Song Contest Inc., one of the companies behind NBC’s upcoming music reality competition series of the same name, which premieres March 21.

Following the blueprint of the Eurovision Song Contest and inspired by its spectacle and production elements, the nine-week series, hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg and produced by Propagate Content and Universal TV Alternative Studio, features artists going head to head in state-to-state weekly competitions, leading to semi-finals and a March Madness-style Grand Final.

In the newly created role, Lipstone’s focus will be to develop and grow the Eurovision Song Contest brand globally. Domestically, that involves creating auxiliary businesses around the American Song Contest reality series, including digital commerce. Based in ASC, Inc.’s home base in Los Angeles, Lipstone also will work on the brand’s international expansion, including...

Propagate Content has promoted Isabel San Vargas, its President, Production and Operations, to equity partner in the indie content production and distribution company. She joined Propagate as it was founded in 2015 by Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, rising to her current role in 2018.

San Vargas oversees all aspects of production and operations, including international and domestic production and post-production. She reports to Drew Buckley, Group President and COO.

“Isabel is a seasoned and trusted leader who consistently delivers results,” Silverman and Owens said Thursday. “She is a hands-on operator, and has overseen a number of premium global documentary, scripted and unscripted productions for Propagate during an unyielding global pandemic. We are thrilled to have her assume an expanded role on Propagate’s leadership team.”

Prior to Propagate, San Vargas was SVP Production at Pilgrim Studios, where she helped launch competition series Top Shot and oversaw The Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper and Street Outlaws,...

Greg Lipstone is leaving Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens’s Propagate after a three-year stint as President, Deadline has confirmed. According to sources, the decision was made at the end of Lipstone’s original contract upon evaluation of the potential for growth of his responsibilities. He will not be replaced. It is unclear what Lipstone will do next.

Lipstone previously served as CEO of All3Media America and was a founding partner and board member at ICM Partners where he headed the agency’s international television and media department.

Propagate’s slate includes the upcoming Fox drama series Our Kind of People, HBO Max’s Lfg, Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew on MotorTrend, Charmed on the CW, the Jamie Foxx-produced Hustle and Roll on Discovery+, Running Wild with Bear Grylls on Nat Geo and the upcoming NBC competition series The American Song Contest. The independent studio is backed...

Greg Lipstone is set to exit as president of Propagate Content after three years at the company headed by Ben Silverman and Howard Owens.

Lipstone’s departure at the end of his initial three-year contract is said to be amicable. The longtime ICM agent who shifted to the executive ranks in 2015 aims to look for a new executive or entrepreneurial opportuny.

Lipstone joined Propagate in 2018 after three years as CEO of All3Media America. At Propagate, he helped the company build out its production and support systems to better take advantage of the content boom. Lipstone worked closely on such Propagate projects as NBC’s upcoming “American Song Contest” and TBS’ “The Go Big Show.”

Lipstone is expected to depart at the end of this month. He’ll remain an advisor to Propagate and work on some projects.

“I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do when I joined...

Fox’s Let’s Be Real sketch comedy returns tonight with four new episodes featuring new puppets from entertainment and politics.

Executive produced and written by Robert Smigel (Triumph The Insult Comic Dog), the new series will debut new puppets Dr. Anthony Fauci, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Ted Cruz, Kim Kardashian and LeBron James.

Previously featured puppets, such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald J. Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Kanye West also will appear, as the satirical comedy series will cover politics and pop culture in 2021 through topical sketches, celebrity cameos and remote pieces.

Let’s Be Real is produced by Fox Alternative Entertainment and Propagate Content. Smigel serves as writer and executive producer on the series. Anna Wenger is an executive producer on behalf of Fox Alternative Entertainment; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Kevin Healy and Greg Lipstone are executive producers on behalf...

Showtime has given a series order to hourlong drama Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation, executive produced and directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). The series, an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to warrior king, hails from writers Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika (The Terminal List), Propagate, Fuqua Films and CBS Studios, the studio behind Showtime’s biggest series, Your Honor.

Written by Odebunmi and Awosika, rooted in actual events, Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation tells the story of the Zulu Empire chief Shaka and his unlikely rise to power, uniting multiple tribes across vast stretches of Africa in the early 19th century to transform his power into legend, on par with history’s most seminal figures. In ferocious battles that test the body and soul, in alliances that test the bonds of love and friendship, a complex sociological system plays out...

Mattel Television is set to develop a game show inspired by the game Whac-a-Mole, the company announced Monday.

The toymaker is developing the series with “America’s Got Talent” producer Fremantle.

Here is how Mattel is describing the series: The Whac-a-Mole game show will turn the iconic game into an elimination competition during which opposing teams will use their skill, strength and endurance to face off to become the ultimate Whac-a-Mole champion. The unscripted series will incorporate life-sized Whac-a-Mole, races and obstacle courses, along with a surprising twist that will awe participants and audiences alike.

“Whac-a-Mole is a beloved, action-packed arcade game with a deep fan following, and the interactive nature and comedic energy of the game makes it a great franchise for episodic television,” said Adam Bonnett, Executive Producer, Mattel Television, who is leading the development project for Mattel. “Jayson and the team at Fremantle have had unparalleled success creating...

Exclusive: NBC is developing Zorro, a contemporary take on the classic masked vigilante character with a gender swap. It comes from a high-profile creative team, which includes filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, writer-director Rebecca Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara and her LatinWe, as well as Ben Siverman and Howard T. Owens’ Propagate. CBS Studios, where Propagate has a deal, will co-produce with Universal TV.

Co-written by the brother and sister duo of Robert and Rebecca Rodriguez and to be directed by Rebecca, Zorro centers on Sola Dominguez, an underground artist who fights for social justice as contemporary version of the mythical Zorro. Her life is threatened by several criminal organizations after she exposes them.

Robert Rodriguez and Rebecca Rodriguez executive produce with Silverman, Owens, Rodney Ferrell, Greg Lipstone and Jay Weisleder for Propagate, Vergara and Luis Balaguer for LatinWe, Geoff Clark, Eric Bromberg and John Gertz.

Propagate set out to develop a TV series...

A reality game show based on the popular card game Uno is in the works, Variety has learned.

The potential series hails from the television division of game maker Mattel along with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Greg Lipstone of Propagate and John Quinn. Silverman, Owens, Lipstone, and Quinn will all serve as executive producers. No network is currently attached.

“Uno is the most popular game in the world and is a fixture in pop culture, making it the ideal franchise to build a reality game show around,” said Adam Bonnett, executive producer at Mattel Television, who is leading the development project for the company. “Ben, Howard, Greg and John have deep expertise in unscripted content and are the perfect partners to help us transform Uno into a television series for the whole family.”

“The Uno Game Show,” will feature four teams who will face off to become the ultimate Uno champion.

Mattel Television is set to develop a game show inspired by the card game Uno, the company announced Monday.

“The Uno Game Show” is described as a “larger-than-life televised competition” featuring four teams who will face off to become “the ultimate Uno champion.” The planned show will incorporate audience participation, over-the-top physical challenges and trivia.

Mattel Television is producing the series in partnership with Propogate, with “Let’s Make a Deal” showrunner John Quinn attached to executive produce. Adam Bonnett of Mattel and Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens and Greg Lipstone of Propagate also serve as executive producers.

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Uno, a specialty card game akin to Crazy Eights, was first developed in 1971. Acquired by Mattel in 1992, the game is currently available in more than 80 countries and boasts dozens of themed versions. A previous game show adaptation was put into development in 2013 at The Gurin Company but did not move forward to series.

Card game Uno is set to be adapted as a television game show after toy company Mattel teamed with Propagate Content and Let’s Make a Deal showrunner John Quinn.

The Uno Game Show is part of a new slate of unscripted shows being developed by Mattel Television, the production arm of the toy manufacturer. Mattel Television is best known for producing series such as Thomas & Friends and Netflix’s Barbie Princess Adventure as well as Masters of the Universe series.

It is the latest attempt to turn the card game into a television series after Mattel had previously partnered with the Gurin Company in 2013.

The series will turn the card game into a larger-than-life competition of four teams vying to become the ultimate Uno champion. It will feature audience participation, over-the-top physical challenges and trivia.

The card game, developed in 1971 by Merle Robbins, sees players compete to become the first to score 500 points,...

Exclusive: Tim Pastore is stepping down at All3Media America. The former Nat Geo exec, who was CEO of the U.S. division of the Fleabag and Gold Rush production group, is leaving after two years at the helm.

Pastore joined the Discovery and Liberty Global-backed super-indie in September 2018, having previously been President of Original Programming and Production at National Geographic Channels. He replaced Greg Lipstone.

Deadline understands that the company, which is run by All3Media Group CEO Jane Turton in London, is not seeking to hire a direct replacement for Pastore. This is due to the federal nature of the business; in the UK, the production companies that make up the company, including the likes of Studio Lambert, Objective Media Group and Maverick TV, are independently run with business and logistical support from the central group.

This is similarly the plan in the U.S., where the company...

Get your monster trucks ready, TBS has given a series order to the extreme-talent competition “Go-Big Show,” hosted by comedian Bert Kreischer.

Described as a series showcasing “supersized talents on a scale never before seen on television,” “Go-Big Show” will feature acts like monster truck drivers, alligator trainers and stunt archery going head-to-head for a $100,000 prize.

The acts will be judged by a panel which includes Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Aew wrestler “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. The show is set to premiere in 2021.

Production has begun on the 10-episode first season at the Macon Coliseum in Georgia, where “contenders and staff are operating under strict Covid-19 safety protocols and isolating together for the duration of production,” according to the network.

Rather than a traditional live audience, the show will feature what is being billed as “TV’s first-ever, interactive drive-in audience.” Fans will instead participate in...

TBS has picked up a full season of an hour-long talent competition series titled “Go-Big Show.”

The show is hosted by Bert Kreischer and features celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and “The American Nightmare” Cody from All Elite Wrestling.

The news was announced on Wednesday simultaneously on TBS, TNT and truTV, making it the three networks’ first roadblock announcement. “Go-Big Show” celebrates the most extreme of talents, including monster truck races, alligator training and stunt archery as contestants compete against each other for a grand prize of $100,000.

“We are going bigger and bolder with our unscripted line-up at TBS to provide more of the content that viewers love from our platform,” said Brett Weitz, general manager of TNT, TBS and truTV. “’Go-Big Show’ not only delivers on this promise with a thrilling new take on talent competition, but it’s also another example of our innovative spirit...

TBS is going big with a new extreme talent competition that will swap studio spectators for a drive-in audience.

The WarnerMedia network has ordered Go-Big Show, featuring celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Briarpatch’s Rosario Dawson, The Righteous Gemstones’ Jennifer Nettles and All Elite Wrestling star Cody.

The series, which is hosted by comedian Bert Kreischer, is currently in production in Macon, Georgia and the news is being broadcast across TBS, TNT and truTV, marking the first time that the three networks’ have made an on air roadblock announcement.

Go-Big Show features monster trucks, alligator trainers, stunt archery and other feats, celebrating daring acts alongside personal, behind-the-scenes stories from the challengers as they battle head-to-head to impress the judges and advance toward the finale’s ultimate $100,000 prize.

The show is produced by Propagate and Matador Content with showrunner Conrad Green.

Production has started at the Macon Coliseum, where contenders and staff...

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is returning to ABC, this time with Jimmy Kimmel at the helm. A 20th anniversary edition of “Millionaire” will premiere in April, featuring celebrity contestants playing for charity.

Kimmel will host the special run of episodes, set to return on Wednesday, April 8 — the first time “Millionaire” has been seen on ABC in primetime since a 10th anniversary run in 2009.

It’s also the first time “Millionaire” has been back in production since the long-running daytime version of the format ended its run last May.

Among the changes this time out: Celebrities playing “Millionaire” will be allowed to invite a guest (such as a relative or expert) in the hot seat to help them answer questions. And the new “Millionaire” will also introduce a live, play-along app that will allow viewers to compete to win the same amount of money that celebrities are playing for on the show.

Exclusive: Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Rory Culkin are set for supporting roles opposite lead AnnaSophia Robb, and Hannah Murray and Michael Gaston (The Man in the High Castle) will recur in Emma, a scripted horror series for Quibi.

Produced by Dark Castle Entertainment and Propagate, Emma follows the dark journey of a young woman (Robb) down on her luck and pregnant under mysterious circumstances. She must deal with the increasingly disturbing effects of her pregnancy and the potential conspiracy surrounding it.

Character details are being kept under wraps. The series is currently in production.

Mary Harron (Alias Grace) directs and co-executive produces. Emma is written by Ben Ketai, who also executive produces alongside Alex Mace and Hal Sadoff with Dark Castle Entertainment and Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Greg Lipstone and Rodney Ferrell with Propagate.

Quibi has ordered another show with notable Hollywood talent attached: scripted series “Wireless” starring Tye Sheridan with Steven Soderbergh on board as executive producer.

In the made-for-mobile-screens thriller, a smartphone has a central role. Sheridan plays a self-obsessed college student who is stranded in the Colorado mountains after he crashes his car — and his only hope of being rescued is his quickly dying phone. “Wireless” is billed as “a survival movie for the next generation about the lies we tell through our phones, and the lies our phones tell us.”

The series is created and executive produced by filmmakers Jack Seidman and Zach Wechter, with executive producers Soderbergh, Michael Sugar, Cathy Konrad and Danny Sherman. Ben Silverman, Howard Owens and Greg Lipstone are executive producers for Propagate along with Isabel San Vargas, who is a producer. Wechter will direct the series, which begins production this week. Alpen Pictures’ Christian Heuer,...

X-Men and Ready Player One star Tye Sheridan is to front a survival thriller for Quibi exec produced by Steven Soderbergh.

The shortform platform run by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman has ordered Wireless, created and exec produced by newcomers Zach Wechter and Jack Seidman, the pair behind short film Pocket, which was co-directed by Mishka Kornai.

The series follows a self-obsessed college student (Sheridan) stranded in the Colorado mountains, whose only hope for survival is the tool he has spent his whole life learning to use: his smartphone. Wireless is a survival thriller set inside the car he crashed and the quickly dying phone that now is his lifeline.

Soderbergh will exec produce alongside Michael Sugar, Cathy Konrad and Danny Sherman. Wechter will direct the series, which begins production this week. Christian Heuer, Pickpocket, Treeline Film and Propagate produce. Ben Silverman, Howard Owens and Greg Lipstone are executive producers...

Shortform has a new scream queen. AnnaSophia Robb is set to star in Emma, a scripted horror series for Quibi.

Produced by Dark Castle Entertainment and Propagate, Emma follows the dark journey of a young woman (Robb) down on her luck and pregnant under mysterious circumstances. She must deal with the increasingly disturbing effects of her pregnancy and the potential conspiracy surrounding it.

Mary Harron (Alias Grace) directs and co-executive produces. Emma is written by Ben Ketai (StartUp), who also executive produces alongside Alex Mace, Hal Sadoff, Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Greg Lipstone, Rodney Ferrell and Platinum Dunes.

Robb co-starred with Patricia Arquette and Joey King this year in Hulu limited series The Act, was a regular on the PBS drama series Mercy Street and starred as Carrie Bradshaw on the CW’s Sex and the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries. Repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Schreck Rose,...

Exclusive: CBS Television Studios has signed a first-look production deal with Propagate, the company led by Ben Silverman and Howard Owens. The agreement covers scripted projects from Propagate as well as subsidiaries Electus and Big Breakfast, across all platforms.

Under the pact, Propagate already is developing several new shows, including a re-imagining of Zorro with a female protagonist from Alfredo Barrios Jr. (Magnum Pi) and drama Home from writer Jorge Reyes (Queen of the South) — both at NBC — as well as an untitled project from Writer Melissa Scrivner-Love (Fear the Walking Dead) at CBS.

Zorro, written and executive produced by Barrios Jr., is a modern-day retelling of the Zorro mythology that follows Z, a female descendant of the warrior bloodline who will go to great lengths to protect the defenseless in her community.

Written and executive produced by Reyes — who hails from Buffalo — Home follows the Candelarias, a wealthy Puerto...

Indie production and distribution studio, Propagate, announced on Monday that it has hired veteran studio and development executive Rodney Ferrell as executive vice president of scripted TV.

Ferrell joins Propagate from Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures Television, where he served as president since 2015 and helped to build a slate of scripted and non-scripted properties for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

In his new role, Ferrell will be responsible for expanding Propagate’s scripted platform. Propagate has an emerging portfolio of content that includes “November 13: Attack on Paris” for Netflix, “Lore” for Amazon, “Charmed” for the CW, “Haunted” for Netflix, “In Search Of” for the History Channel, “Blood and Treasure” for CBS and “Planet of the Apps” for Apple.

Also Read: Propagate Promotes Isabel San Vargas to President of Production and Operations

“Rodney has earned a well-deserved reputation for his strength as a developer of literary adaptations,” Propagate co-ceo Howard T. Owens...

Exclusive: Ben Silverman and Howard Owens’ Propagate has hired veteran development executive Rodney Ferrell to lead the company’s scripted efforts. Ferrell, most recently president of Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures Television, has been named Evp Scripted Television at Propagate. In his new role, he will work to expand the company’s scripted portfolio, working with writers, talent and intellectual property.

Scripted programming has been a priority for Propagate, whose current series slate includes Lore (Amazon), Charmed (the CW) and Blood and Treasure (CBS).

Ferrell most recently served as president of Silver Pictures Television since 2015. Before that, he spent 14 years at Fox 2000 as Svp Development and Production. During his tenure there he oversaw such films as Marley & Me, 27 Dresses, Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Water for Elephants, among others.

“Rodney has earned a well-deserved reputation for his strength as a developer of literary adaptations,” said...

If anyone is able to navigate the booming global market for television content, it should be Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens. The pair, who are now partners in the Propagate production venture, made their mark two decades ago in recognizing the potential of U.S. adaptations of British TV hits including “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and “The Office.”

Propagate had a busy 2018 with an investment from Raine Group and its own acquisition of Electus, Silverman’s previous banner set up at Barry Diller’s Iac. At year’s end, Propagate recruited former All 3 America chief Greg Lipstone to help Silverman and Owens grow the business.

“2019 is the year we’ve got to elevate it and make it all work,” Silverman tells “Strictly Business,” Variety‘s weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about the business of entertainment. “We’re not done with our acquisitions or our ambitions for growth.

Veteran TV programming executive Nina Lederman has exited her post as All3Media Evp, Scripted Programming. She is headed to Sony Pictures TV where she has been appointed to the newly created position of Evp, Global Scripted Development & Programming.

Lederman will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Chris Parnell and Jason Clodfelter, co-presidents, Spt Studios, and Wayne Garvie, president, international production, Spt. She will act as a creative liaison to Spt’s Us development and international production teams to facilitate sales to Us based platforms of projects from international Sony production companies and will also shepherd cooperation between the domestic and international groups.

Lederman’s exit from All3Media America comes on the heels of former National Geographic Channels’ President of Original Programming and Production Tim Pastore being named new CEO of All3Media America. Pastore’s extensive background in unscripted TV raised speculation that All3Media America may refocus on its bread-and-butter reality programming.

Propagate, run by Ben Silverman and Howard Owen, has acquired Electus, as well as a majority interest in powerhouse talent management and production firm Artists First from Barry Diller’s Iac.

The independent content creation and distribution company is looking to expand its full-service global studio. The deal combines Electus’ popular content, international sales division and valuable library and Artists First’s impressive talent roster and hit shows with Propagate’s already robust content creation capabilities and strategic relationships. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“At Propagate, we are focused on building premium content with the best creative voices from around the world, and being able to support the growth of Electus and all of its partnerships is incredibly exciting to us,” Silverman and Owens said in a joint statement. “We have had the privilege of working closely with Peter Principato and his team of world-class executives and managers...

Propagate, the production banner headed by Howard Owens and Ben Silverman, is in expansion mode with a deal to acquire Electus and a majority interest in management-production banner Artists First.

The deal reunites Silverman with Electus, the company he founded a decade ago with backing from Barry Diller’s Iac. Electus had been quietly shopping for a buyer for the past few months after Iac came to the conclusion that the company largely focused on unscripted programming was not a fit with the rest of its digital-centric operations.

Electus is the producer and distributor of series including NBC’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” ABC’s “The Toy Box,” the CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” and Discovery’s “Darkness,” along with production companies Big Breakfast (“Adam Ruins Everything”) and Notional, producer of Food Network’s “Chopped” franchise. The price tag for Electus was said to be around $35 million, according to a knowledgeable source.

Former All3Media America CEO Greg Lipstone is reuniting with one-time Wma colleagues Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, joining their Los Angeles-based indie studio Propagate as President.

Lipstone most recently served as CEO of All3Media America, where he oversaw day-to-day operations for the umbrella company and its subsidiaries, including Studio Lambert (Undercover Boss) and Maverick (Chrisley Knows Best). He was part of the producing team of All3Media/CNN’ United Shades of America that shared an Emmy award last year.

Before joining All3Media America in 2015, Lipstone was a founding partner and board member at ICM Partners where he headed the agency’s international television and media department. His clients included All3Media America, Lmno Productions, Original Media, Jane Street Entertainment, Ping Pong Productions, Bodega Pictures and Arnold Shapiro Productions.

Prior to ICM Partners, Lipstone worked at the William Morris Agency for 21 years — where he worked with Silverman and Owens...

Unscripted TV veteran Greg Lipstone has joined Howard Owens and Ben Silverman as president of the pair’s Propagate production banner.

Lipstone left All3Media America in January after two and a half years as CEO. Before that he was a top unscripted TV agent at William Morris Agency and ICM Partners for more than 30 years.

“Greg’s successful career as a packaging agent combined with his more recent experience on the production side, makes him an ideal executive to oversee Propagate’s day-to-day operations,” said Silverman and Owens in a statement. “As we look to expand our global production imprint and continue to launch new creative ventures, his relationships, creative instincts, business acumen and understanding of international markets will make him a huge asset.”

Owens, former National Geographic Channel president, launched Propagate as a partnership with A+E Networks in 2015. Silverman, who worked with Owens at his previous Reveille venture, joined...

Nine months after exiting All3Media as CEO, Greg Lipstone has a new gig.

Lipstone has joined Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens' Propagate as president. In his new role, he will help the Los Angeles-based global indie studio with its plans to expand worldwide production, distribution and digital business, including forming an IP incubation hub. The company plans to launch business units in Latin America, Asia, India and the Middle East, partnering with local production companies to develop, produce and distribute original formats, develop new ones and target potential acquisitions.

"Greg's successful career as a packaging agent combined ...

All3Media America, producer of series like CBS’ “Undercover Boss,” has named Tim Pastore as its new CEO. He will start Oct. 1.

The U.S. arm of the U.K.-based production company had been without a CEO since January, following the departure of Greg Lipstone.

“Tim’s reputation as a business leader and his track record as the creator and producer of high quality and popular TV is incredibly impressive,” said Jane Turton, All3Media CEO. “I’m really excited at the prospect of working with such a talented executive and believe that Tim is the perfect person to lead All3Media America as it continues to grow from strength to strength.”

Also Read: Tim Pastore Steps Down as Nat Geo President of Original Programming

In May, Pastore stepped down from his post after four years as president of original programming and production at National Geographic Channel.

All3Media is a leading independent television,...

After a lengthy search, former National Geographic Channels’ President of Original Programming and Production Tim Pastore has been named CEO of All3Media America. Reporting to Jane Turton, All3Media CEO, Pastore will start October 1.

All3Media America has been without CEO since January when Greg Lipstone stepped down as CEO after two and a half years, joined by COO Dan Donahue who exited after an year on the job.

Pastore, an Emmy-winning producer, exited Nat Geo in May after a four-year stint as President, Original Programming and Production for National Geographic Channels where he oversaw development, programming, and production across the Us and UK.

“Tim’s reputation as a business leader and his track record as the creator and producer of high quality and popular TV is incredibly impressive,” Turton said. “I’m really excited at the prospect of working with such a talented executive and believe that Tim is...

National Geographic Channels alum Tim Pastore has been named CEO of All3Media America.

Pastore’s appointment, effective Oct. 1, fills the void left since the departure of Greg Lipstone from the top job at All3 America in late January after two years in the role.

All3Media America is the U.S. arm of the U.K.-based production group that is home to more than two dozen banners, most of them focused on unscripted programming. All3Media is jointly owned by Discovery Inc. and Liberty Global.

“Tim’s reputation as a business leader and his track record as the creator and producer of high quality and popular TV is incredibly impressive,” said Jane Turton, CEO of All3Media. “I’m really excited at the prospect of working with such a talented executive.”

Based in Los Angeles, All3Media America is producer of CBS’ “Undercover Boss,” CNN’s “United Shades of America,...

All3Media America has found its new CEO.

Former National Geographic Channels programming president Tim Pastore has been tapped to replace Greg Lipstone at the unscripted production company. Pastore, who departed Nat Geo in May, will start his new post Oct. 1 and report to All3Media CEO Jane Turton.

During his four years at Nat Geo, Pastore oversaw National Geographic Studios, the in-house division behind original series and documentaries, including Emmy-winning Explorer, Gender Revolution With Katie Couric and Star Talk With Neil deGrasse Tyson. He helped launch Nat Geo's feature documentary unit with LA92, Hell on Earth: The Fall of ...

Exclusive: Greg Lipstone is stepping down as CEO of All3Media America after two and a half years. Also exiting the company is All3Media America COO Dan Donahue after a year or so on the job. Both departures are effective immediately. Lipstone was a founding partner and board member at ICM Partners representing All3Media when he left to run the company in August 2015. He was later joined By ICM Partners Chief Operating Officer and partner Donahue. "We would like to thank…...

Maverick TV USA has a new boss. Veteran producer John Hesling has been named president of the unit, tasked with developing and launching new programs for American audiences as well as driving value from formats created by Maverick TV's UK office. Based in Los Angeles, he will report to Maverick CEO Simon Knight and All3Media America CEO Greg Lipstone. Hesling most recently was Svp Programming at Shed Media/Warner Bros Television, where he had creative oversight of the…...

Network: Fox. Episodes: Ongoing (hour). Seasons: OngoingTV show dates: May 31, 2017 — present. Series status: Has not been cancelled. Performers include: Gordon Ramsay. TV show description: The F Word is Gordon Ramsay's latest cooking competition series for Fox. Unlike MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, however, the series airs live on the East Coast with a live-to-tape delay airing on the West Coast. Ramsay executive produces the show with Greg Lipstone, Layla Smith, Chris Brogden, and David Friedman. Apart from airing live, this Us adaptation of Ramsay's 2005-10 UK series of the same name features some similarities and also some key differences. While the UK original did include a competitive element, it was primarily a food "magazine" and cooking show, and the guests were...

Dan Donahue, Chief Operating Officer and partner at ICM Partners, is leaving the agency to join All3Media America as COO. He will work closely with All3Media America CEO Greg Lipstone, a fellow ICM Partners alum who recruited his former colleague. "I am beyond thrilled to be working with Dan again,” Lipstone said. “He is a great leader and possesses the skills that are ideal for All3Media America." At All3Media America, Donahue will focus on developing group operating…...

The United Shades of America TV show has been renewed for a second season on CNN. W. Kamau Bell hosts the original docu-series, which was nominated for an Emmy® and TCA Award in its first season. The show features Bell traveling across the Us and using comedy to start conversations about race, "... and how our differences unite and divide us."United Shades of America, season two, will premiere in spring 2017. The series is produced by Objective Media Group/All3Media America. Bell, Jimmy Fox, Greg Lipstone, and Layla Smith executive produce. Get the details from this CNN press release.Read More…...

The Tiffany Network bosses continue to like what they see. The Undercover Boss TV show on CBS has been renewed for an eighth season. The news broke as part of the CBS May Upfront presentations coming this week.

Stephen Lambert, Chris Carlson, and Greg Lipstone are executive producers for Studio Lambert/All3Media America. Mark Keller is announcer. Deadline confirmed the renewal.

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Should the Juice be loose? Investigation Discovery (ID) has ordered the Hard Evidence: Oj Is Innocent TV series, narrated by Martin Sheen. The six-episode series will premiere in early 2017. Jimmy Fox, Greg Lipstone, Layla Smith, William C. Dear, and Sheen are executive producing for Objective Media Group America/All3Media America. Lorna Thomas is executive producing for ID.

“The series intends to explore three questions,” said executive producer Martin Sheen. “What if there were enough evidence that proved O.J. Simpson did not murder his ex-wife Nicole or Ron Goldman? What if the real killer were still at large? And finally, what if a grand jury convened to reconsider the case based on new evidence?”

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How shrewd.

Three child stars of the 1990s have landed their own unscripted series on Pop, the network announced Tuesday.

Real-life pals Jodie Sweetin (Full House, Fuller House), Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven) and Christine Lakin (Step by Step) have teamed up to play themselves in Hollywood Darlings, which the cabler describes as an “unscripted docu-comedy series.”

RelatedDancing With the Stars: Jodie Sweetin In, Derek Hough Out In Season 22

The half-hour show will follow the actresses, who got their start as child stars and are now “moms, wives and businesswomen;” a release for the endeavor, which has an eight-episode order at the network,...

All3Media America is signaling a push in the original scripted arena with the appointment of former Lifetime executive Nina Lederman as Evp of Scripted Programming, the company’s first dedicated senior scripted executive. In the newly created role, Lederman will work with all the scripted businesses in the All3Media Group to expand the company's scripted business in the U.S. She will report to All3Media America CEO Greg Lipstone, marking one of the first major executive…...

Pivot has renewed the Secret Lives of Americans TV show for a second season. The show is executive produced by Greg Lipstone, Stephen Lambert, Leah Hariton, and Danny Villa for Mme/Filmpool USA and All3Media America. John Henshaw also serves as executive producer. Jeff Skoll and Christy Spitzer serve as executive producers for Pivot.

Pivot has also renewed Human Resources for a third season. The Human Resources TV show is executive produced by Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, and Anneka Jones for Left/Right. Jeff Skoll and Lyle Gamm serve as executive producers for Pivot.

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In one of Greg Lipstone’s first moves as All3Media America CEO, he has brought into the fold one of his former clients at ICM Partners, reality producer Oliver Bogner. Bogner and his Bogner Content banner have signed an overall deal with All3Media America to develop and produce unscripted content for both broadcast and cable. The company will be based out of the All3Media America Los Angeles headquarters. "Oliver is an extremely talented producer who has found great…...

Michael Kagan has been promoted head of international TV and media at ICM Partners. In his new role, Kagan will run unscripted and international television for the agency. He will focus on scripted and reality television packaging, format adaptations and new media projects, as well as books and other literary material to be adapted for TV. Kagan started in the mailroom at ICM in 2003. He was named partner in 2003. His promotion follows the departure in Greg Lipstone, who left the agency last week to become CEO of All3Media, an ICM client. Also Read: Talent Agent Meredith Wechter Jumps to Wme.