BBC Studios signs first-look pact with Shaun Murphy’s Aussie prodco Big Owl

BBC Studios has agreed a first-look deal with Big Owl Pictures, the Australian prodco founded by Shaun Murphy, the former head of television at Warner Bros Australia.

Shaun Murphy

The multi-year agreement gives BBC Studios the initial right of refusal on Big Owl’s slate of original factual entertainment and entertainment formats outside of Australia, plus a commitment to co-develop paper formats through BBC Studios’ global production network including LA, the UK, France, Germany and the Nordics.

Murphy launched Big Owl last summer and has previously held roles as executive producer at Shine Australia and Warner Bros Australia, where his credits include The Masked Singer, The Bachelor, First Dates and Back in Time for Dinner.

“Shaun has an incredible track record in Australia producing some of the country’s most watched and talked about formats in recent years,” said Matt Forde, managing director of international production and formats at BBC Studios. “We’re thrilled to be working with producers outside the UK in this way for the first time.”

BBC Studios has several first-look deals with UK prodcos such as Magnum Media (The 1% Club) and Jay Blades’ Hungry Jay Media, plus a development pact with Joe Sugg’s label Final Straw.

“Working with the entire BBC Studios international team to broaden our formats is a terrific prospect,” said Murphy, CEO of Big Owl.