Elizabeth Yost

SVP, Programming & Development

Hallmark Channel

Elizabeth Yost is the senior vice president of original programming for Crown Media Family Networks, home of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, which is owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc. Yost is based in Los Angeles and reports to Barbara Fisher, senior vice president of programming.

Yost oversees the development and production of all original programming for both Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, including movies, mini-series, specials and series. Yost is also charged with managing all scripting and casting of the networks’ productions. She plays an instrumental role in supporting the company’s legendary brand as a high-quality, family-friendly environment and helps drive primetime ratings. Yost is a key player in the selection of projects for the network. The projects that she supervises continues to attract talented stars, including Doris Roberts, Shelley Long, Shirley Jones, Patrick Duffy, Stacy Keach, Richard Chamberlain, Cicely Tyson, Lori Loughlin, and Natasha Henstridge, among many others.

Previously, Yost was responsible for all of Hallmark Channel’s original programming. In that position, she launched the network’s first original series as well as its popular Mystery Movie franchises. Yost joined the company as director of development in original programming.

Prior to joining the company, she served as executive producer for EMY Entertainment, an independent production company and as an associate producer for Hearst Entertainment. At Robert Greenwald Productions, a prolific prime time telefilms supplier, she was the manager of television development. Yost began her career at the William Morris Agency, assisting in representing a variety of movie and television actors.

Yost is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Women’s Entertainment Network. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in corporate communications from Southern Connecticut State University.

Speaking at: One Year Later