Sky promotes Stuart Murphy to entertainment role

In addition to his exiting responsibilities for Sky1 and commissioning, Murphy's remit will now also include Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living. The channel directors for each brand will also now report to Murphy.

Murphy will continue to report to Sophie Turner Laing, managing director of entertainment, news and broadcast operations.

Previously, Jane Johnson, director of Sky Living, Naomi Gibney, director of Sky Atlantic, and James Hunt, director of Sky Arts, reported to Turner Laing.

Sky has committed to increasing its investment in British programming to £600m by 2014 and upcoming shows include David Attenborough's 3D documentary 'Kingdom of Plants', and new drama and comedy programmes such as 'Sinbad' and 'Starlings'.

Murphy joined Sky as director of Sky1 in 2009 and took on responsibility for commissioning across the Sky entertainment portfolio in November 2010. He was also responsible for the launch of Sky Atlantic in January 2011.

Prior to Sky, Murphy’s other broadcasting experience includes launching BBC Three in 2003 as controller, two years as creative director at the production company TwoFour between 2006 and 2008, and a short stint at the production company RDF in 2006.

Turner Laing said: "Over the past three years, under Stuart's leadership, we have seen Sky 1 become a true destination channel, offering our customers some of the finest drama, comedy and entertainment programmes on television at the moment.

"I have no doubt that in his new role, he'll bring the same vision and drive to the rest of the portfolio, working with the team to look at the next steps for the rest of our – first class – entertainment channels."

In other changes, Hunt has taken on the additional role of director, entertainment production, replacing Barbara Gibbon, who has become director of production and operations at Sky Creative.

Follow Mark Banham on Twitter @Banham72

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk