Ryan Seacrest New - P 2012
FOXRyan Seacrest is looking to expand his reach yet again.
His newly launched Seacrest Global Group has made its first acquisition by purchasing a majority stake in New York-based strategic marketing agency Civic Entertainment Group. The firm, which will continue to operate under the leadership of co-founders Stuart Ruderfer and David Cohn, is behind such high-profile, experiential promotional efforts as The CNN Grill at both 2008 National Conventions and SXSW.
In addition to funding, Seacrest, who earns a reported annual income of nearly $60 million and has a Rolodex that’s the envy of the industry, will be able to provide content, platforms and access to the highly regarded firm, which has provided creative marketing services to media, entertainment and sports entities including A&E Networks, CNN, ESPN, HBO, NFL and Southwest Airlines. For Seacrest, the investment is an opportunity to diversify his portfolio as well as generate revenue.
PHOTOS: A Day In the (Very) Busy Life of Ryan Seacrest
Added Ruderfer and Cohn in a joint statement: “We couldn’t ask for a stronger partner than Ryan Seacrest. We share Ryan’s vision and commitment to building a world-class company that offers clients a uniquely valuable suite of services. Our alliance with Seacrest Global Group will provide us with the expertise, relationships and resources to further build our leading position in the marketing space.”
In its 12-year existence, CEG, which employs 45 people and touts annual billings of roughly $40 million, has orchestrated a partnership with Virgin America pegged to Entourage’s fifth-season return, a series of promotional 1920s Atlantic City-era events tied to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire premiere and a partnership with Bloomingdale’s around NBC’s 2011 fall launch.
“Stuart and David and the Civic team have been strong partners helping us build some of the best brands on the media landscape. They have developed innovative marketing campaigns that have driven viewership and integration partnerships for many of our big tentpole events,” noted A&E Networks CEO Abbe Raven, whose cadre of cable networks has been working with CEG for several years. Among the AETN-CEG campaigns: a custom-designed, high-end fleet of taxis to promote History’s Top Gear and an elaborate, interactive game tied to A&E’s launch of The Sopranos.
PHOTOS: Hollywood Honors Ryan Seacrest at LA’s Promise Gala
Prior to CEG, Ruderfer and Cohn founded the NYC Parks Marketing & Special Events division under Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the mid-1990s. The goal at that time was to develop partnerships among top marketers, entertainment properties and the city in a bid to drive tourism and generate revenue for the city. Among the successful efforts born out of the entity was a multimillion-dollar HBO-sponsored Garth Brooks Concert in Central Park, a New York Yankees world championship parade and the John Paul II Papal Mass in Central Park.
With this acquisition, Seacrest can push his personal brand into the broader branding world and explore possible synergies within his portfolio. Already, the latter includes assets such as his nationally syndicated radio show, a series of cable shows (Keeping Up With the Kardashians franchise, Shahs of Sunset) and hosting efforts (American Idol, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve) and a collection of media investments and brand ventures with such blue-chip companies as Coca-Cola, Ford and Procter & Gamble.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though it is said to be a smaller investment that the ones Seacrest’s $300 million investment fund set up by Clear Channel, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital is designed to make. LionTree Advisors was the financial adviser to Seacrest Global Group, while AdMedia Partners advised CEG. Bank of America provided financing. Parke Spencer, former COO for Rubenstein Associates, serves as the company’s president and runs day-to-day operations for the firm.
Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose
Related Stories
Related Stories
More from The Hollywood Reporter
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
Taylor Swift
iHeartRadio Music Awards: Taylor Swift Honored With Innovator Award, Harry Styles Among Top Winners
![]()
-
thr news
Jonathan Majors Arrested and Charged With Assault, Lawyer Says Actor Is “Completely Innocent”
![]()
-
thr news
Jeremy Renner Shares Video Walking on Anti-Gravity Treadmill After Snowplow Accident: “Time for My Body to Rest and Recover”
![]()
-
![]()
