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 -

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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