Endeavor Acquires Asylum Entertainment Group Major Unscripted M&A – Deadline

exclusive: Endeavor is pouring its money into unscripted TV.The company that owns WME, IMG and UFC has acquired Asylum Entertainment Groupthe Steve Michaels-led improv production company plans to “expand” its footprint with a major M&A move.

Deadline has learned that through its strategic investment, Endeavor plans to invest millions of dollars in the company to provide it with the financing and resources to acquire multiple non-script production companies and build it into a major non-fiction group.

We’ve heard that Michaels is already scouting for potential takeover targets and is negotiating a nine-figure deal.

It becomes the latest big Hollywood player to conspire to bring in nonscript producers to expand its reach; something Sony has been trying to do since acquiring the company behind it, Industrial Media. American idol and 90 day fiancéin a $350 million deal last year, the likes of Banijay and Fremantle have been making acquisitions in this space.

Asylum runs multiple record labels, including The Content Group, Texas Crew Productions, Big City TV, Breaklight Pictures, and Auditity, and is the producer behind shows such as Discovery+ Hillsong: Exposed megachurchTNT’s Shaq Life and AMC’s The Horror History of Eli Roth and multiple 30 30 seconds For ESPN.

It was originally founded by Michaels in 2003 and sold to Legendary Pictures in 2014 for more than $150 million. Michaels bought it back in 2018 and restored the original brand name in 2019.

Content Group, Texas Crew Productions, Big City TV, Breaklight Pictures and Auditity will now be part of Endeavor’s Unscripted Content division, led by Rebecca Sanhueza in her new role.

Sanhueza, who was executive vice president of content strategy and development, is now also head of unscripted content, reporting to her from Asylum CEO Michaels and president Jody Flynn.

It marks Endeavor’s latest production. The company last year sold a majority stake in its production and distribution business, Endeavor Content, to South Korea’s CJ ENM as part of an agreement with WGA. It still owns 20% of the company, which has been renamed Fifth Season.

Endeavor also has wall Produced by Glassman Media and Pete Berg’s Film 45, which is behind the Amazon doc good night Obi and Netflix’s Innocence file.

“Endeavor is the ideal partner for our next chapter of growth in the unscripted space,” said Michaels. “We are excited to offer new partners the unique opportunity to expand their vision, brand and business.”

“Asylum is an ideal complement to our existing portfolio, and we will fully support Steve in building an industry-leading unscripted business,” said Endeavor President Mark Shapiro. “Rebecca was a key architect of Endeavor’s content strategy. She played a key role in growing Endeavor Content and IMG’s original content business, and brought the vision and strategy needed to realize our global ambitions in the unscripted space.

“We’ve always admired the great work of Steve and Asylum,” Sanhueza added. “Steve’s hunger for growth, proven track record and market insight will benefit all of our creative partners as we look to further invest in non-scripted productions.”