Kirsten Hurd Promoted at TVOkids

Kirsten Hurd, who has been serving as interim executive producer of TVOkids, has been promoted to commissioning editor.

Hurd will be responsible for the commissioning of original programming and the acquiring of content at industry markets. She will work with internal and external teams to develop the creative and educational direction for children’s programming on broadcast, OTT, TVOkids.com, YouTube and other digital platforms.

Hurd will also coordinate delivery schedules, assess rough cuts, fine cuts and other required assets and will manage budgets, including the allocation of TVO’s access to the Canadian Media Fund.

She reports to Natasha Negrea, who moves into the newly created role of the head of programming for the TVO Media Education Group, responsible for the overall direction and evolution of documentaries and children’s programming. Negrea will oversee the commissioning, acquiring and production of content and, working in conjunction with TVO’s marketing and audience development teams, manage scheduling, distribution and promotion on broadcast, OTT and digital platforms. Previously, Negrea served as development executive at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and as a producer with Blue Ant Media. Negrea reports to John Ferri, VP of programming and content for TVO Media Education Group.

Elizabeth St. Philip joins TVO as the director of program development, a new position responsible for charting projects for broadcast and digital platforms that will build on TVO’s position in providing in-depth current affairs programming. For two decades, St. Philip was a senior producer at CTV National News as well as a producer at the network’s flagship investigative series, W5. Joining in September, St. Philip also reports to Ferri.

Alexandra Roberts joins TVO as commissioning editor for documentaries. She will oversee all aspects of the production of commissioned documentaries, from initial pitch to finished film. Reporting to Negrea, Roberts completed her undergrad at McGill University and served as a producer in residence at the Canadian Film Centre.