CTV orders more 'Saving Hope'

Canuck broadcaster CTV purchased 12 one-hour instances of original hospital drama "Saving Hope" as parent Bell Media introduced an professional reshuffle of their production unit on Wednesday. Series is professional created by Thump Corporation. founder Ilana Frank ("Rookie Blue"), Lesley Harrison and veteran TV helmer David Wellington, who's also the series director. Co-produced and compiled by Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Brebner, "Hope" was inspired with a three-part number of articles, released in 2005, by Globe and Mail scribe Ian Brown, who spent eight days in Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. "Hope" stars Michael Shanks ("Stargate Atlantis") as Dr. Harris, chief surgeon of the imaginary Toronto hospital, who is based on coma and wanders the wards in spirit form. Erica Durance ("Smallville") stars as his girlfriend and fellow surgeon, and Joel Goran ("The Vampire Journals") may be the hot new surgeon.An airplane pilot was shot this summer time. Not sure yet on when lensing starts. Bell Media is re-aiming its production unit, headed by senior Vice president Corrie Coe, to mirror development and production by genre across all Bell qualities, a change in the funnel-focused model. Trish Williams has become the unit's director of drama (shows airing across CTV, Space, Muchmusic and Bravo) Sarah Fowlie is director of comedy (these along with the Comedy Network) and Susan Makela is director of Canadian programming management. Coe is constantly on the helm Bell's factual and reality series development and production. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com