Anne Murray's Toronto and Nashville-based music management and publishing company, which has newly been named Balmur Entertainment, is looking to expand its tv production beyond the variety and music specials now filling most of its library. Tony Baylis, former cfo at Skyvision Entertainment, where he was responsible for over $100 million in production, is on board to add his frontline development experience and financial know-how.

As executive vp and cfo for Balmur, Baylis says the company already has a number of book rights and developed properties in the family entertainment and informational programming genres, and is working on development of a period piece in the form of an action/adventure miniseries with "a significant budget."

Just out of the gate, Baylis says the company hasn't set production volume goals, and he expects to be taking on one project at a time. Production on the first project, a pilot for an informational program, should be underway in a matter of months.

Having established its identity as a music publishing and management company, Baylis says Balmur has been pitched "four or five ideas" since his arrival.

The company, which executive produces Rita & Friends, has produced variety specials for cbc, pbs and cbs, totaling over 40 tv productions.