Former Hallmark & Lifetime Exec Joins Reel One

Reel One Entertainment has tapped Barbara Fisher, a former executive at both the Hallmark and Lifetime channels, for the role of executive VP of scripted content.

Based in the company’s Los Angeles office and reporting to CEO Tom Berry, Fisher will lead Reel One’s development and production activities across all scripted content, overseeing a growing slate of TV movies and series and working closely with key broadcasters and digital platforms. She will also help create and execute the next phase of the company’s growth strategy, working closely with Breanne Hartley, executive VP of business affairs, and Sebastian Battro, executive VP of distribution.

The expanded scripted slate that Fisher will manage is comprised of over 75 TV movies, including a remake of the award-winning Belgian drama Tygat Chocolat, a high-end adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novella Second Variety and the Irish/Canadian crime series Our Father, a co-production with the Irish indie ShinAwiL.

Fisher joins Reel One from the cable network UP TV, at which she was senior VP of original programming, overseeing the company’s slate of movies and series. Before that, she was senior VP of The Hallmark Channel, spearheading the development and production of over 40 movies a year, as well as the network’s first foray into scripted series. She also previously held the role of executive VP of entertainment at A+E’s Lifetime Channel, a position that saw her head up series, movies and reality programming, as well as scheduling, for all Lifetime channels.

Fisher was also formerly a producer and consultant for National Geographic Entertainment and spent 15 years at Universal, joining the company as director of movies and miniseries and eventually becoming the president of MCA Television. Prior to her tenure at Universal, Fisher was VP of creative affairs for New World Pictures.

“As the company expands and embraces exciting new challenges and opportunities, I am very happy to have Barbara join our team and contributing her formidable talent and expertise in both TV movies and series,” said Berry.

Fisher added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Tom Berry and the talented team at Reel One Entertainment. It is an exciting and busy time for the company as we grow our television production slate.”