Hearst Media Production names Whiteside VP of business affairs in originals drive

Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) has appointed Alexa Whiteside as VP of business affairs as the New York-based company gears up to expand its original development slate.

Alexa Whiteside

Whiteside, an entertainment attorney specialising in TV, streaming and features, previously worked at LA- and New York-based entertainment law firm Ramo Law, which focused on production and distribution. During her time with the firm, she was senior associate attorney and provided general outside counsel and business affairs advice to clients.

More broadly in her career, Whiteside has been general counsel for entertainment and media companies working on projects for the likes of Netflix, Discovery+, Peacock, CNN and Freeform. In her new role, she will be based at HMPG’s office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The appointment comes as HMPG, which is a business unit within Hearst Television, looks to focus more heavily on original production.

The company currently airs more than 30 series annually across broadcast nets and station groups in the US. Its credits include education and informational programming blocks such as Weekend Adventure on ABC stations, CBS Dream Team on CBS, The More You Know on NBC, One Magnificent Morning on The CW and Mi Telemundo on Telemundo. HMPG has a library of more than 4,000 hours of programming.

“Given our ambitious growth objectives for original program development, Alexa’s background and experience are an ideal fit as we expand the HMPG brand,” said HMPG president Frank Biancuzzo.