Snapchat hires Fox executive in content role

Messaging service Snapchat has hired former Fox Broadcasting exec Marcus Wiley for what is understood to be a head of development/original content role.

Wiley was head of comedy development at Fox before exiting the US broadcast net to focus on producing.

Deadline, which first reported his hire, said he will oversee the development of original short form scripted and music-based content for the messaging platform.

Wiley’s credits include Fox series Brooklyn Nine Nine and New Girl.

Earlier this year Snapchat, which claims about 100 million active users, announced its first original series, SnapperHero, in which YouTube and Vine stars play superheroes.

The short form episodes ran to 100 to 200 seconds and only available for a limited time.

Snapchat also launched a content discovery app, Snapchat Discover, in January as part of its moves beyond straightforward messaging. It allows Snapchat users to explore stories from different professional editorial teams. Media partners include National Geographic, Vice Media, Yahoo News, Comedy Central, CNN, ESPN and Scripps.