Online registration is now closed, but we will likely have extra seats, which will be first come, first served. Please come to the venue tonight and we will try to accommodate you. Please note that if you are buying a non-member, you will need to bring exactly $25.00, as we will not have change.
DOC Toronto Meet the Broadcaster Evenings are back! Blue Ant Media will be kicking off our series this year to discuss their documentary programming priorities for their broadcast services which include Travel + Escape, Hi Fidelity HD channels AUX TV and their digital services.
Hear directly from production executives on what they are looking for, how much they will pay, and their process for proposals. Jeannette Loakman will be moderating this session. There will be plenty of time for questions from the audience and one DOC Toronto member will have the opportunity to pitch live in front of the panel.
Doors open at 6 PM.
DOC Member: Free Admission (and 1 free drink ticket)
Non-Members: $25.00
Promotional offer on DOC Membership at Meet the Broadcaster Evenings
Join DOC at one of our Meet the Broadcaster Evenings in October or November and save $35 by benefiting from 14 months of membership for the price of 12! Sign up for your membership at the event and get 2 months on us, and enjoy full member benefits and pricing on events and workshops! This offer is not available online — you must obtain a copy of the promotional membership form in person at one of the designated events. For any questions about this offer, please email DOC Member Services Coordinator Adele Charlebois at adele@docorg.ca.
Blue Ant Media Panelists:
VANESSA CASE
Executive Vice President, Programming
Vanessa Case has over 17 years experience and a solid strategic programming background most recently coming from Shaw Media where she oversaw the specialty channel programming and scheduling as both Senior Director and as Vice President of Content. She’s managed such specialty channels as HGTV, History, Slice, TVtropolis, National Geographic Channel, BBC as well as the conventional channel E! Overseeing original production for numerous specialty services and with a background in launching new services and rebranding existing ones, Vanessa has a proven track record of successfully growing specialty Television audiences and brings this to her role as EVP, where she oversees programming and marketing for 7 specialty channels – Travel+Escape, Oasis, Bite, radX, HIFI, AUX and eqhd.
SIMON FOSTER
SVP, Digital Publishing & Business Development
Simon is responsible for building and profiting from Blue Ant’s digital media business, managing content, product development, marketing, funding, and tax credits. He is accountable for achieving aggressive audience and revenue growth targets across multiple digital entertainment devices.
At QuickPlay Media, Simon successfully launched XM Radio on mobile in the United States, as well as the first worldwide podcasting service on BlackBerry featuring ABC News and ESPN. He worked at Snap Media on the creation and execution of successful online content strategies for broadcasters such as CHUM and CTV. Simon is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Queen’s University, is the Co-Founder and Chairman of The Framework Foundation / Timeraiser, and serves on the Board of Directors of Canada’s National Ballet School.
ANDREA HARRICK
Director of Acquisitions
Andrea has over 19 years of experience in the television industry. Starting her career in Programming at TSN, she assisted in the launch of Discovery Channel and then played an integral role in the launch and development of Rogers (formerly CTV) Sportsnet. Andrea acquired and helped develop programming for all four Sportsnet channels and OLN.
Most recently as Director of Acquisitions, Andrea has been acquiring content for the High Fidelity suite of channels. Upon the sale of High Fidelity to Blue Ant media, she is now responsible for acquiring programs all seven channels including Bite, AUX and Travel+Escape.
MARCIA MARTIN
SVP, Original Content
As Senior Vice President Original Content, Marcia oversees all aspects of original content including development, production and co-production for Blue Ant television’s Travel+Escape, BITE TV, AUX TV, HIFIHD, OasisHD, eqhd and RadxHD channels.
Marcia has led both conception and execution of all aspects of TV production. As Senior Vice President, Executive Producer, Specials, CTV, she oversaw all major in-house produced live specials, and as VP Productions for CHUM’s 33 local and specialty channels, she led the launch of numerous specialty channels including Space, Star! and Fashion Television.
Marcia is active on numerous industry and charity boards and is currently a board member of the National Screen Institute and an Advisory Board Member of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, which benefits young Canadian performers and filmmakers.
JEANNETTE LOAKMAN, Moderator
Jeannette Loakman is the Executive Producer and owner of Chaser Films. Jeannette is an award-winning producer with over 12 years of experience in the television industry. She is currently producing the documentary film Peep Me for CBC Newsworld and Canal D with Chocolate Box Entertainment. Her last film Cat Ladies premiered at Hot Docs 2009, screening also at Silverdocs and San Francisco Doc Festival, and doubled the ratings for TVO. Jeannette was also nominated for a Gemini for Spam: The Documentary, a critical and ratings hit, Spam is the story of one man’s comical search for the origins of bulk unsolicited email.
Interested in pitching to Blue Ant Media?
After the presentation by Blue Ant Media, one attendee will have the opportunity to verbally pitch (no trailers, please) a project to the panelists. This will be a voluntary surprise pitch, where attendees will put their name in a hat at the event and a name will be drawn randomly.
If you think that your project is a good fit for this company, please come prepared. Contact Adam Shamoon, Coordinator, at adam@docorg.ca, if you are interested in receiving resources for pitching tips.