Paramount+ Canada’s head of original programming, Tom Hastings (pictured), has been let go as part of job cuts at the streamer’s Canadian office.
Hastings is one of a number of Canadian staffers that are being laid off this week, Playback has learned from multiple sources. The identities of other impacted employees have not been made public as of press time.
The company unveiled a slate of projects in development last June, though it has yet to greenlight any scripted Canadian originals to date. The slate includes Anthony Q. Farrell’s comedy Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story with New Metric Media and writer Lynne Kamm’s six-part series Len & Cub under Muse Entertainment and Elliot Page’s banner Page Boy Productions.
Titles on the slate are still in development at various stages, but the streamer is not seeking new projects or pitches, Playback understands.
Paramount Global announced in February that employees from the U.S. and international teams would be let go in an effort to streamline costs, with reports estimating the cuts at about 800. At the time, Paramount did not comment on whether those job losses would happen in Canada.
Hastings joined Paramount+ in September 2022 and was tasked with leading the commissioning strategy for its Canadian original programming.
He joined a team that included Katrina Kowalski – who has since been promoted to SVP, content programming and acquisitions for Pluto TV International – and Susan Makela, senior director, acquisitions, rights and inventory.
Prior to joining Paramount+, Hastings served as VP of scripted at Muse Entertainment, director of drama at Bell Media – where he worked on series such as Cardinal, Transplant, 19-2 and Wynonna Earp – and creative head of CBC Drama.
The cut marks the latest loss of Canadian content executives at global streaming services. Disney+ let go of Stephanie Azam as its head of content in Canada last June and has yet to commission any original Canadian programming.
Image courtesy of Paramount+