BBC Studios & Big Owl in Formats First-Look Deal

BBC Studios has secured a global first-look deal for formats outside of Australia with Shaun Murphy’s Big Owl Pictures.

The multiyear partnership offers BBC Studios a first look at Big Owl Pictures’ slate of original factual entertainment and entertainment formats and a commitment to co-develop paper formats through BBC Studios’ global production network, including L.A., the U.K., France, Germany and Nordics.

The Australian production company was founded by Murphy, former head of television at Warner Bros Australia, where he was responsible for executing The Masked Singer, The Bachelor, First Dates, Who Do You Think You Are, Back In Time For Dinner, Celebrity Apprentice, The Bachelorette, Little Big Shots, Dancing With The Stars and more.

Matt Forde, managing director of international production and formats at BBC Studios, said: “Shaun has an incredible track record in Australia producing some of the country’s most watched and talked about formats in recent years. We are really excited to work with the Big Owl Pictures creative team to bring their dynamic slate to a global audience. We are thrilled to be working with producers outside the U.K. in this way for the first time and are keen to partner with exceptional creatives like Big Owl, wherever they are in the world.”

Murphy, CEO at Big Owl Pictures, added: “The ability for BBC Studios to take Big Owl’s IP onto the world stage is magnificent; they are truly unmatched with their quality of shows and range of genres. Working with the entire BBC Studios international team to broaden out our formats is a terrific prospect, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership for both companies.”