Foxtel snags Paramount exec to oversee programming

DAZN-owned Foxtel Group in Australia has hired Paramount exec Daniel Monaghan to oversee a swathe of its programming, following the exit of Wendy Moore.

Monaghan was most recently senior vice-president of content and programming at Paramount Australia and New Zealand, but is departing to become exec director of entertainment at Foxtel.

He will join in February and takes up the remit previously held by Moore, whose departure was confirmed three months after the Australian operator was acquired for £1.7bn by DAZN in April. 

Foxtel’s former content chief, Alison Hurbert-Burns, stepped down in February, prior to the completion of the DAZN deal.  

Monaghan will lead on programming across genres including drama and entertainment for Foxtel, while also working across the strategy for sibling streamer Binge.

He had been at Network 10 and Paramount for more than a decade, and his exit follows the recent merger between Skydance and Paramount, with eyes now on how that deal may affect the operations of its international assets.

Monaghan has been tasked with finding shows that will travel for Foxtel, as per its Binge streamer smash hit Colin From Accounts.

During his tenure at Paramount, the exec helped drive flagship SVoD Paramount+ to become a popular proposition in Australia with shows such as Fake, The Inspired Unemployed: Impractical Jokers and Last King of the Cross. Other series included kids drama Rock Island Mysteries and NCIS: Sydney.

Hilary Perchard, who was appointed chief exec at Kayo Sports, Binge and Foxtel earlier this summer, said Monaghan’s appointment “reflects our ongoing commitment to our successful entertainment services.”