Trish Williams to Become Co-Executive Producer of CTV's SAVING HOPE as Tom Hastings Appointed Director, Independent Production, Bell Media

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TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media, announced today that Trish Williams is leaving the company to become Co-Executive Producer of CTV's hit original drama series SAVING HOPE. Williams will be succeeded by Tom Hastings, who has been appointed Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Formerly a Production Executive on Bell Media's Independent Production team, Hastings will report directly to Coe while leading the development of dramatic productions across the Bell Media suite of channels.

"Trish has been a key figure in the success of some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original drama series, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to work with her in her new role," said Coe. "Tom is well-respected among Canadian television production companies and has played a crucial role in developing Bell Media's leading drama slate. We are delighted to welcome him into this new role."

As the Director of Drama in Bell Media's Independent Production Unit, Williams oversaw the development and production of original Canadian dramatic series across Bell Media's family of channels including CTV, Space, MuchMusic, and Bravo, and most recently The Movie Network. In her tenure as Director, Independent Production, she successfully launched several new dramatic series including critical smashes ORPHAN BLACK and 19-2, highly-rated dramas SAVING HOPE and MOTIVE, buzzy female werewolf skein BITTEN, and the upcoming Space drama KILLJOYS.

After joining CTV in 2008, Williams was production executive on the juggernaut series FLASHPOINT, which gained popularity and momentum over five seasons, reaching all-time ratings high with the finale episode. She began her career in the production community, working for 10 years in a variety of roles from documentary producer/writer to on-air host to developing feature films. Williams has a MA in Communication and Culture from the York/Ryerson University joint Program.

Hastings has comprehensive experience bringing compelling dramatic ideas from concept to reality. He joined Bell Media in 2012 as a Production Executive in the Independent Production, Drama unit where he was responsible for the development and production of dramatic series that have aired across Bell Media's channels such as CTV, Bravo, Much, Space, and The Movie Network, including the critically acclaimed 19-2, recently nominated for 10 Canadian Screen Awards.

Hastings also has extensive relationships with Canada's independent production community, and is especially known for his respected relationships with Canadian writers and producers. Prior to his role at Bell Media, Hastings was the Creative Head of CBC Drama where he oversaw the development and production of prime-time dramatic programming. He previously served as a Production Executive at Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., after starting his broadcast career as the Manager of Research for the newly launched National Geographic Channel Canada. Hastings holds a doctorate degree, having obtained his Ph.D. in English Literature and is a specialist in Canadian and Commonwealth literature with numerous publications in those fields, including a book-length study of Canadian fiction of the First World War.

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, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the three-time Emmy^®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER – THE SERIES, dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, and the upcoming KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

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; and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 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, Alberta, and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with premium subscription on-demand streaming service CraveTV, as well as its innovative GO video streaming services including CTV GO, TMN GO, and TSN GO; holds an equity stake in digital startup Hubub; is partners in Cirque du Soleil Media, a joint venture with Cirque du Soleil; 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

Emily Young Lee, Bell Media, 416.384.2593 [email protected]