HLN Adds Programming Execs Amid Revamp

HLN EVP and General Manager Albie Hecht today announced the hiring of Keith Brown, SVP Programming; Kari Kim, VP Program Development; and Adrienne Lopez, Director, Special Projects. The hiring announcement comes a couple weeks after HLN‘s health and wellness weekend programming brand “upwave” achieved a two-decade ratings low for the network — which happened less than a month after Hecht announced the network was dumping Kyra Phillips-anchored Raising America and Ryan Smith-anchored Evening Express, and that a four-hour block called News Now, from 1-5 PM ET, would be hosted by Mike Galanos, Susan Hendricks, Christi Paul and Lynn Berry, on a rotating basis.

Brown, who reports to former Spike TV-founder Hecht, will oversee all current daytime and primetime series, editorial, newsgathering and programming, which encompasses scheduling, media planning, acquisitions and on-air talent at HLN. Previously, Brown worked with Hecht as VP at Spike TV, where he created the news and documentary department, overseeing the development, production and acquisition of series and specials. More recently he was managing partner of the NY-based production company Perez-Brown Media Group, after working as SVP of news and public affairs at BET Networks.

Kim will oversee HLN’s new development department where she is responsible for the creation and supervision of original series and specials. She also reports directly to Hecht. Prior to joining HLN, she was VP Production and Development, Worldwide Biggies, where she developed television and digital programming for outlets that included Spike TV. Kim began her career in the talent department at Saturday Night Live, and later worked at MTV Networks — including Spike TV at its launch. Lopez, reporting to Brown, will have oversight of bookings, talent relationships, and talent development projects, in collaboration with Kim.  She will also serve as a producer and production executive on special projects. During her 12-year tenure at Nickelodeon, Lopez was VP Talent and Casting.

“Marrying the talented trio of Keith, Kari and Adrienne to the dynamic HLN team creates a powerful force that will no doubt catapult the network’s brand evolution and invigorate programming,” Hecht said in this morning’s announcement.

HLN these days describes itself as “the national television network that focuses on the ‘must-see, must-share’ stories of the day” and “dissects and demystifies the news stories and newsmakers people are talking about.”