Bell Media Opens New Regional Production Development Offices in Vancouver and Winnipeg

Bell Media Opens New Regional Production Development Offices in Vancouver and Winnipeg


- Michele McMahon appointed Development Manager of Vancouver office and
Brandice Vivier named Development Manager of Winnipeg office -



- New offices enhance Bell Media's relationship with Canada's
independent production community -



To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1oka1Et


TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media is pleased to reinforce its
commitment to Canadian independent production with the addition of
regional production development offices in Vancouver and Winnipeg,
opening Monday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Mar. 3 respectively. Bell Media has
hired senior industry executives Michele McMahon and Brandice Vivier as
Development Managers in Vancouver and Winnipeg respectively. Both will
report to Susan Makela, Director, Independent Production, Canadian
Programming Management, Bell Media.



"These appointments reiterate Bell Media's commitment to Canada's
creative and vibrant independent production community," said Corrie
Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. "Michele and
Brandice are two of this country's most-esteemed production executives
- they are passionate proponents of Canadian programming, and will
serve their respective markets well, bringing more homegrown talent the
attention they deserve."



Based at CTV Vancouver, the West Coast office will serve the production
communities in B.C. and the Territories, while the office based at CTV
Winnipeg will be the point of contact for producers in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, and Alberta. McMahon and Vivier will act as creative
executives on projects in development and production and lead community
engagement and outreach initiatives.



The new offices join the already established regional production
development office in Halifax served by Robin Johnston, Director,
Independent Production, Factual, Bell Media.


About Michele McMahon

Prior to joining Bell Media, Michele McMahon spent 10 years with
Omnifilm Entertainment, the last five as Director of Drama Development.
There, she developed the drama PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD (Space) and ARCTIC
AIR (CBC). McMahon also developed and researched documentaries such as
SHOCK WAVE (CBC), and award-winning factual series like MAKE SOME NOISE
(CBC) and STUNTDAWGS (Discovery). In her diverse 20-year career as a
journalist, writer, and TV producer, McMahon has researched news
stories, edited a weekly paper, freelanced for national newspapers and
magazines, and written and story edited several screenplays. She also
acted as the Chair of the Amnesty International Film Festival.


About Brandice Vivier

Brandice Vivier has worked in the film and television industry for more
than 20 years, most recently as Senior Manager at the National Screen
Institute (NSI). Vivier has worked on numerous award-winning projects
for Bell Media, Shaw Media, HBO Canada, and City (formerly Citytv).
Prior to joining NSI, Vivier worked at CTV, where she negotiated
development and license agreements for CTV, The Comedy Network, and
Discovery, as well as preparing compliance reports for the CRTC. She
also liaised with independent producers on all Canadian dramatic
programming being developed and licensed by CTV. Vivier began her
career at Manitoba Film & Sound (now Manitoba Film & Music) as a
Programs Analyst.


About Bell Media Independent Production

Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and
most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian
independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings
success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian
scripted series of the 2012/13 season, MASTERCHEF CANADA, and THE
AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced
complementary version of the hit international series. Also coming to
CTV in early 2014 is multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT. Among the
scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the
two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed and
internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, BITTEN, 19-2, and TRANSPORTER:
THE SERIES, and upcoming dramas SENSITIVE SKIN and KILLJOYS. Bell Media
specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEW
GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY
THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. In 2013, Bell Media
ordered 27 original Canadian series and currently has 84 projects in
various stages of development.


About Bell Media

With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media
creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and
inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is
Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television,
radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30
local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network;
35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched
specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services,
including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing
shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell
Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 107 licensed
radio stations in 55 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral
Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home
advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising
faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates
more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO
video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO, and Bravo GO, and
owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell
Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest
communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca

SOURCE Bell Media

Bell Media

CONTACT: Amy Doary, Bell Media, 416.384.2593 or amy.doary@bellmedia.ca


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