BARBARA FISHER

Senior Vice President, Original Programming
Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel

Biography

    Barbara Fisher is the Senior Vice President, Original Programming for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.  She reports to David Kenin, Executive Vice President, Programming and is based in the Los Angeles office. 

    She is responsible for overseeing the development and production of all original programming at the channels – including movies, mini series, specials and series – and  is assisting Kenin in leading the expansion of the programming department as the network broadens its list of production suppliers and creates new platforms for program distribution. 

    Most recently, Fisher has been a producer/consultant for National Geographic Entertainment, developing scripted and non-scripted series and movies for television.     Prior  to  that,  from   June  2002  to  June  2004,  she  was  Executive  Vice   President, Entertainment, at Lifetime Entertainment Services where she oversaw all scheduling, programming  and  production  for  Lifetime  Television,  Lifetime  Movie  Network  and Lifetime Real Women.  Under Fisher’s leadership, Lifetime dramatically increased its commitment to original programming, including the Emmy-nominated film “Homeless to Harvard,” two new primetime dramas “Missing” and “Wildcard,” several reality series, as well as the continuation of the top-rated shows “The Division” and “Strong Medicine.”  Building on Lifetime’s commitment to inform and support women, Fisher also expanded the on-air components of the Network’s advocacy campaigns addressing a range of issues such as breast cancer, violence against women and self-esteem.

    Prior to joining Lifetime, Fisher was President of Universal Studios Network Programming and was responsible for series such as “Just Shoot Me” and “The Steve Harvey Show.”

    From 1991 to 1999, Fisher served as President of Universal Television Entertainment where she shepherded telefilms, mini series and original cable series including “Dream On” which aired on HBO for seven years.  In 1996, Fisher added Universal Family Entertainment and Universal Cartoon Studios to her responsibilities where she oversaw the direct-to-video sequels to “The Land Before Time” and “An American Tail.”

    Fisher graduated from Oberlin College with a bachelor’s degree in English.

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