The producers behind the When Calls the Heart didn’t set out to cultivate a strong social following for the romantic period series.
To the team’s surprise, however, fans of the show have found each other online, defining themselves as “Hearties” and prompting the producers to do what they can to keep these loyal fans engaged.
“It’s really not us – it’s the fans that are doing it,” Canadian executive producer Michael Shepard told Playback Daily. While the series is produced by American prodcos Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy Television, Canadians Vicki Southeran and Greg Malcolm serve as producers on When Calls the Heart, which is based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke.
“The ratings for Hallmark has seen massive increases…because those viewers, female, 25 to 54, the ones who like this type of show are no longer served like they used to be,”
Along with Shepard, other executive producers on When Calls the Heart include Brad Krevoy, Tony Blake, Robin Bernheim, Brian Bird and Michael Landon Jr.
Read more By Julianna Cummins at Playback