US SVOD service Acorn hires Murphy

US streaming service Acorn has hired Shane Murphy as managing director of its production division, Acorn Media Enterprises.

Murphy has been consulting for indie prodco Deadpan and Irish broadcaster RTÉ, and previously served as head of acquisitions and development at FremantleMedia and commercial director at UK prodco Tiger Aspect.

At Acorn Media Enterprises (fka Acorn Productions), Murphy will work out of the company’s London office and expand its production work.

Acorn specialises in offering UK content to US SVOD customers and is looking to deepen its involvement in production.

Mark Stevens, president of Acorn Brands for Acorn parent company RLJ Entertainment, said: “We continue to look for ways to participate earlier in the development of new high quality British Drama.

“Our involvement with the final episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and the new BBC series Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime (left), as well as the final two seasons of Foyle’s War has allowed us to secure more high quality content for our company.”

“We’re thrilled to have someone with Shane’s experience join RLJ Entertainment to help us expand our efforts to participate in the development of more first rate international content.”

Murphy has already started in his new role.