WTFN has promoted Michael McDermott to the newly created role of Head of Development, putting him in charge of shaping the production company’s next slate of projects.
The move comes as Nine commissions Police Australia, a new factual series developed and cast by McDermott, who has worked across WTFN’s development team since joining the company in 2020.
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Leading Australian independent production company WTFN has promoted Michael McDermott to the newly created role of Head of Development, as the company looks to build its pipeline of concepts internationally for traditional television and the multi-platform content market.
The promotion comes as Nine commissions a major new WTFN factual series Police Australia which was developed and cast by McDermott.
McDermott joined WTFN in 2020 as a development researcher, following the completion of a PhD in media and diversity studies, and has since risen through the company’s development team, taking on increasing responsibility across its slate.
He has helped develop projects spanning true crime, lifestyle, factual entertainment and observational documentary, working from initial concept and research through to pitching and production.
He has also worked as a producer on WTFN titles including The Hunters and Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, while his casting credits include some of the company’s best-known returning series, including Emergency, Paramedics and Space Invaders.
In his new role, McDermott will lead development at WTFN, with a particular focus on creating ideas that can succeed in a rapidly changing television and content landscape.
He will also work closely with businesses across the wider WTFN Group, including digital content company Radar, to explore how ideas and IP can be developed for different platforms and audiences.
Steve Oemcke, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at WTFN, says:
“Michael is a hugely impressive creative and we’re delighted to promote him into this pivotal new role.”
“He watches more television than anyone I’ve ever met, has a genuine fascination with audience behaviour and combines that with a razor-sharp analytical mind that makes him look at ideas from a different angle.”
“He understands what makes great television, but he’s equally interested in how, where and why people are choosing to watch.”
“That combination is increasingly important and makes him a real asset to WTFN. We’re excited to see him lead development and help shape the next chapter of our content strategy.”
Michael McDermott, Head of Development at WTFN, adds:
“WTFN has given me wonderful opportunities to develop, produce and cast programmes across a wide range of genres, so I’m incredibly excited to now lead development for the company.”
“The way audiences discover and consume content is changing rapidly, and that creates a real opportunity for us creatively.”
“I want us to be ambitious about the ideas we develop, but also forensic about who they are for, why they will connect and where they can live.”
“Police Australia is a great example of an idea that started with identifying a compelling world and finding the right people to bring audiences into it, and I’m thrilled that Nine has backed the series.”
Nine commissions Police Australia
Nine confirmed the commission of WTFN’s Police Australia at its 2027 Upfront event yesterday.
The six-hour high-impact observational documentary series follows the day-to-day work of frontline police officers in Western Australia.
With extraordinary next-level access, the WTFN team is currently embedded with the police force, capturing everything from general duties to organised crime investigations and special operations, while also revealing the people behind the badge.
Due to air next year, the series promises an authentic and revealing look at the realities of modern policing in Australia.
Police Australia builds on WTFN’s successful slate of ‘blue light’ programming for Nine, which includes Emergency, now in its sixth season, and Paramedics, which has run for seven seasons, most recently filming in Western Australia.
Content from Police Australia is also expected to join Paramedics and Emergency on Real Emergency, the successful FAST channel operated as a joint venture between WTFN and Nine.
King