IAC Forms Electus Digital, Merging CollegeHumor with Other Online Properties
IAC announced the the formation of Electus Digital, which will merge IAC’s CollegeHumor Media and select Electus digital and studio properties.
With the move, the company is consolidating its firepower into one place to create digitally-driven entertainment aimed at 18-34 audiences. Electus chief operating officer Drew Buckley will oversee the new division. As part of the formation of Electus Digital, CollegeHumor’s originals production team has formed Big Breakfast, a production company led by Sam Reich, who most recently was president of original content for CollegeHumor.
Ricky Van Veen, co-founder of CollegeHumor.com, will work in partnership with Buckley across creative development and audience expansion for Electus Digital, according to IAC. CollegeHumor GM Shane Rahmani, previously with Thrillist Media Group and MTV Networks Digital, reports to Buckley. Rahmani replaced CollegeHumor CEO Paul Greenberg, who left the company last summer after his contract expired.
All together, Electus Digital will comprise website properties CollegeHumor.com, Dorkly.com and WatchLoud.com; YouTube channels WatchLoud, Nuevon and Hungry; and production companies Big Breakfast and dumbdumb.
“This configuration represents a combination of the best of creative execution and distribution on the digital landscape,” Buckley said in a statement. “As one team, we are now able to deliver even more inventive, high-quality programming to more fans across all platforms.”
Electus said Big Breakfast will focus on the development of feature-length films, TV programming and new media projects for Electus Digital, as well as continue to lead production of original videos for CollegeHumor.com. Big Breakfast also will be responsible for creating original content for other digital platforms, in addition to television and film partners. Among Big Breakfast’s first projects is a development deal with TBS to bring CollegeHumor series “Jake and Amir” to cable TV.
