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EXCLUSIVE: Crown Media Family Networks’ SVP Barbara Fisher, who has overseen original programming for the company’s Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel since June 2007, will leave her post in a couple of weeks. For the past five years, Fisher shepherded the development and production of all original scripted programming for both networks –- movies, miniseries, specials — reporting to Michelle Vicary, EVP Programming. A rep for Crown Media confirmed Fisher’s exit, adding, “We have an incredible amount of respect for Barbara; she is multi-talented, and we hope to collaborate with her somehow down the road.” While the flagship Hallmark Channel was down slightly in the ratings year-to-year — finishing 2011 with 814,000 viewers in primetime, down 5% from 2010 following double-digit declines in 2010 and 2009 — its offshoot Hallmark Movie Channel has been g’rowing albeit from a small base. Last year, it averaged 197,000 viewers in primetime, up 45% from 2010. Additionally, Hallmark Channel had a strong finish to 2011, delivering its highest-rated weekend (11/26-27) and single day (11/27) in history. Fisher’s exit comes two weeks after Hallmark Channel’s upfront presentation where the network, which had built its brand on original movies, announced its foray into scripted original series with the green light to movies/backdoor pilots Cedar Cove and When Calls The Heart. Before joining Hallmark, Fisher consulted for National Geographic entertainment as a producer and served as EVP of entertainment at Lifetime entertainment services and president of Universal Studios network programming.
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I wish AT&T would carry the Hallmark channel. That’s one of the biggest losses having switched from Time Warner to AT&T a few years ago. I miss all those sappy Christmas movies!!! lol
Barbara is one of the few class acts in this business and I can’t believe they let her go, particularly as they’re ramping up their movie production slate. Good luck trying to fill her shoes.
Barbara is easily one of the nicest, brightest executives in the business. I have no doubt she is onto bigger and better. Best of luck to her. Can’t wait to see what’s to come.
There are a lot of jobs in show business I would want. Trying to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Fisher is not one of them.
By far the best tv films at Hallmark came under Fisher’s division. She raised the bar over there. Losing her seems like a step in the wrong direction for Hallmark.
What a love fest! I’ll have you all know that Barbara Fisher stole my car, pushed my grandmother down a flight of stairs, and punched my rabbi in the face.
Just kidding. Barbara is a great, collaborative executive and a class act. She manuevered through very tough mandates and limitations at Hallmark. Great lady and she’ll be missed by many TV movie producers.
Barbara is all of the above i.e. one of the nicest, brightest executives in the business and a class act. She is also one of the most creative executives who knows how to bring the best out of the talent she hires. It is Hallmark’s loss and Barbara’s gain that she is finally moving on and can free up her extraordinary talent.
I was going to post about what a great executive and wonderful human being Barbara is, but I see I don’t need to. What a loss for them. Bizarre timing too as they ramp up.
Wherever Barbara lands, the talent will follow.
Barbara is one of the best, brightest, and most buttoned-up programming execs that I have ever had the privilege to work with. She ideates with pizzaz and executes with excellence . . . and her next stop will benefit enormously by having her in their company!
Here, here!
WOW – that is a terrible decision!!! Barbara could have put Hallmark on the map – she should have been in charge of all the programming – she is beloved, has good taste and really knows the business.
It is Hallmark’s loss and someone else’s gain. I wish her all the best – she is one of the top execs in this business.
Barbara is all that the previous posters have said.However, when she got there, I believe she thought she could overcome the Larry Levinson ‘show’ i.e. the sweetheart deal that he had before she got there, and continues to have, making it virtually impossible for quality tv movie producers to work there. Given H.C and HMC are the biggest buyers for what’s left of the embarrassingly anemic tv movie business, it’s really too bad. Maybe she quit maybe she got pushed but I expect this unfortunate Levinson situation contributed.
That Larry Levinson deal is one of the most bizarre things I have seen in some time. Crippling for a great network. Barbara is great and her hands are/were tied, in my opinion.
Bill Abbott has already made some truly horrible decisions (Martha Stewart) but this one is the worst – Barbara helped give him and his network credibility.
The posts above are a testament to who Barbara Fisher is both personally and professionally. She is a class act, a talented executive and a wonderful and warm human being. Whoever gets her is the lucky one.
I have heard the same thing – Abbott doesn’t want any opinions but his own which is why Vicary is running programming.
what a bad decision!!!
I am shocked to have learned this news. Barbara Fisher is by far one of the best in the business. She is not only brilliant, creative, kind, experienced, a class act, she is also honest. Those traits are difficult to find in any executive. A big mistake on Hallmarks part!
Today is a great day for all of Hallmark’s competitors! Each of them should send Hallmark a Hallmark thank you card for letting Barbara Fisher go. And if Hallmark’s competitors are smart, they will start competing to hire Barbara. I’m not the only one predicting it will be a turning point for Hallmark, and not in a good way; and a turning point for whoever hires Barbara Fisher, in a great way. Bottom line -whoever gets her, wins.
Barbara was a writer’s executive, someone who completely understood story, gave genuinely thoughtful and helpful notes, was gracious when a project did well (including one of mine that was the highest rated MOW one year) and sympathetic when one didn’t do as well as one hoped. I am shocked and saddened. She will be sorely missed.
Barbara Fisher’s enthusiasm and taste helped keep Hallmark in play. She will continue to make her mark for years to come.
This decision to fire Barbara is all about an insidious power play on behalf of Bill. It has nothing to do with the future wellbeing of the network. She was the lifeline to the creative community. It’s now back to the dark ages.
This is just depressing. Barbara is by far the best executive at Hallmark and she gets let go because she is an experienced person with valid opinions??!!! What is Abbott so afraid of – that she might make sense???
It’s all been said but let me add…Barbara Fisher was putting Hallmark on the map with some of the best TV movies I have seen in years. As a TV exec and a viewer, I have had the pleaure of working with her and respect her integrity, judgement, and ability to raise the bar as she had at Hallmark. Bill Abbott only wants “yes” employees and people who will agree with inane decisions like Martha Stewart. Barbara Fisher will do fine…its The Hallmark Channel I worry about.
BTW, I will no longer be a viewer.
I know this is old news but Hallmark, just as I figured, is a train wreck without Barbara. Michelle Vicary doesn’t read a script and they have a former assistant giving bad notes – they are completely rudderless without Barbara there.
And with another senior executive shown the door this week (it’s true), everyone over there is probably finally thinking what most outside believe already — the channel is sinking fast and the employees are unhappy. Look for jobs, hallmark people. Watch your backs.
I worked In the film business right out of college, and Barbara met with me and gave time out of her schedule to mentor a young woman whom she had never met. She is a wonderful woman with strong values and integrity. It is encouraging to see how many fans she has here, but her departure only reaffirms my fear that this business is in decline.
I really enjoy watching all the movies here in palmdale on time warner cable…but the BACKGROUND MUSIC OVER POWERS THE VOICES making hard to not only hear &follow story line. CanU please help with this technical problem &thankU so much, hava wonderful day
Hallmark #1!!!?