Tom Hastings has been appointed production executive, independent production, drama at Bell Media.
The change is a switch from public to private for Hastings, who was most recently creative head of CBC drama. Hastings is now focused on developing and producing drama series and movies for the conventional and specialty channels owned by Bell Media.
The hire, which is effective immediately, sees Hastings report to Trish Williams, Bell Media director of independent production, drama.
Hastings has worked closely with the independent production sector in Canada previously. During his most recent position with CBC, he worked on development for several Canadian mini-series, movies and drama series. One such series is Arctic Air, a show about a Yellowknife-based airline that became the most-watched debut season for a CBC series in that genre in 15 years earlier this year.
Prior to CBC, Hastings was an Alliance Atlantis Communications production executive, where he worked with channels including HGTV and The Food Network.
The appointment announcement was made as the public hearing into Bell’s acquisition of Astral Media continues in Montreal, with media concentration and the future of Canadian-produced content top of mind for the country’s media industry.
