✖

Kelly Townsend

Kelly Townsend is the editor at Playback, with previous experience in B2B and entertainment journalism. Before joining the Playback team in 2018, she worked in the editorial, marketing and communication departments at B2B publisher Dovetail Communications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from York University and is a graduate of Humber College’s journalism program. Her byline has appeared in IndieWire and she spent several years covering Canadian TV as associate editor of The TV Junkies.

Posts by Kelly Townsend

Is Amazon Studios preparing to open a Canadian division?

Could a new listing for a Toronto-based scripted development executive mean a significant investment in original Canadian content for the streaming service?

January 13, 2021

Transparency issues top of mind as CBC broadcast licence hearing gets underway

The CRTC examined what a digital regulatory framework will look like for CBC as they ask for flexibility in their programming requirements.

January 12, 2021

‘Together we’re going to fight:’ ACTRA T.O.’s new president

Newly elected president David Gale says he will work with members to bring more representation to the union as he steps into his two-year term.

January 8, 2021

Crave renews Canada’s Drag Race for season two

Casting is underway for the second season of the Canadian drag sensation, with production expected to begin in the coming months.

January 7, 2021

Lisa Meeches, Carolle Brabant named to Order of Canada

Meeches and Brabant are among 61 new appointments, while Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob was recently honoured with the Order of Ontario.

January 7, 2021

Film festival legend Dimitri Eipides dies at 82

The longtime TIFF programmer and co-founder of the Montreal Festival du nouveau cinema paved the way for international cinema in Canada during his lifetime of work.

January 6, 2021

Telefilm says no misconduct occurred following employee investigation

While the federal funder has “adjusted internal practices” in its project financing team processes, the investigation concluded “no harassment, discrimination or misconduct had occurred.”

January 5, 2021

How Peacock Alley quietly continued their momentum in 2020

President Carrie Mudd looks back on their first service production, out this month on Netflix, and how they’ve learned to be more strategic with their development slate.

December 22, 2020

Bell Media Studios taps Trey Anthony as development producer

The ‘Da Kink in My Hair creator will help Bell Media’s in-house production team develop and produce unscripted formats for the global market.

December 21, 2020

Boat Rocker folds Temple Street into scripted division

Kerry Appleyard has been named as SVP, creative affairs, at Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted, effective today, as Boat Rocker Media retires the Temple Street banner.

December 18, 2020

In brief: Project 10 partners with BIPOC TV & Film on comedy accelerator

Plus: Wattpad readies production for three original series in Indonesia and Shaftesbury supports a new creative writer residency at Victoria College.

December 17, 2020

Canadian Moment of the Year 2020: Schitt’s Creek’s Emmy sweep

The historic Schitt’s Sweep was the height of a game-changing year for Canadian television as international appetite for Cancon climbed to new heights.

December 16, 2020