Propagate launches international distribution business
Details
Michelle Clancy
| 18 January 2017

After a year resulting in 12 series in production and ten scripts sold to development, indie studio Propagate is launching its international distribution business, helmed by top global sales executive Cyrus Farrokh.

The international division will manage content acquisitions and distribution as well as format development and sales. Propagate has several international partnerships in place, and has already licensed two international formats to US broadcasters.

“As a creative-led independent in the global format business finding extraordinarily fast success in US content partnerships, we are so proud to begin replicating our market-leading production platform globally,” said co-CEOs Ben Silverman and Howard Owens.

“We are thrilled to have our long-term partner Cyrus join in the next phase of Propagate’s growth strategy. Cyrus has an incredible track record of fostering long-term partnerships and opening doors into new markets, particularly in China and the Asia Pacific region, and we are excited to redefine the global content business together.”

Farrokh joins Propagate from Electus International where he most recently served as SVP and head of sales. In this role, he managed content sales and strategy to broadcast, home entertainment and digital media distributors. Prior to Electus, Farrokh worked on the international sales team at Shine International, where he launched the company’s Asia business, including its first deals in China for MasterChef with SMG. Previously, he held sales positions with Media Rights Capital. Farrokh started his career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor.

“I am ecstatic to be working with Ben and Howard again, and with the fantastic team at Propagate,” said Farrokh. “We are in the midst of a transformative period in the television and media industry, and Ben and Howard’s unique global vision and approach to business has positioned us well for the future. I am excited to start seeing our partners at NATPE and forging a new way forward together.”

Supporting Farrokh on the international team are Propagate executives Jay Weisleder, who will be focusing on Latin America and Spanish-speaking territories and Jimmy McNider, who will focus on European territories. Linh Le continues to focus on global business development.

Among the company’s active international projects are Exhibit A, a drama for CBS executive produced by Daniel Dae Kim with Alexi Hawley attached as showrunner. The series is based on the hit South Korean series, My Lawyer, Mr Jo which airs on KBS2. Propagate also has licensed the Turkish format My Partner Knows Best to Lifetime.

At NATPE, Propagate will launch a number of properties to the international market, including the format and finished US version of My Partner Knows Best; the format for Lore, an unscripted series based on the Aaron Mahnke’s podcast of the same name, which is being co-produced with Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment in the US for Amazon; Chris Webber’s Full Court Prank, (f/k/a ‘Fan Slam’) which is currently in production for TruTV in the US; and the unscripted series H1Z1: The Last Stand starring NBA champion Rick Fox and video game industry veteran Jace Hall, which was acquired by CW Network for CW Seed in the US.