EXECUTIVE TEAM
Krystal Whitney
Executive Vice President, Current Programming, Unscripted
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Krystal Whitney
Executive Vice President, Current Programming, Unscripted

As Executive Vice President, Current Programming, Unscripted, Krystal Whitney is a guiding creative force for BBC Studios’ U.S. Unscripted business, playing a key leadership role in advancing existing series and producing shows that have been picked up to current series for the well-established Los Angeles production base.

Whitney’s wide-ranging work spans across an array of originals and hit global formats that BBC Studios has adapted for the U.S. market.  She works closely with the Unscripted Development and Production teams to launch, produce and deliver break-through programming that drives major engagement by U.S. audiences.

Whitney leads the entire creative process, taking shows forward from development to casting to overseeing creative, talent, preparation and final delivery, in collaboration with the team.  She excels in building and fostering strong relationships with industry partners, talent, executive producers and entire production teams.

Whitney has proven herself instrumental at imparting defining creative vision for a number of successful unscripted U.S. series for BBC Studios, including Emmy-nominated Weakest Link and the Emmy-winning Life Below Zero franchise.  In addition, she is an Executive Producer for the U.S. version of the global entertainment sensation The 1% Club, which premiered on Amazon and FOX in 2024.  Whitney is also an Executive Producer on Outlast, a hit survival competition series on Netflix, which BBC Studios produces in partnership with Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films.

Whitney has led BBC Studios’ long-term partnership with National Geographic on the Life Below Zero franchise, which has spanned over a decade and generated three spin-off series: Life Below Zero: Next Generation, Life Below Zero: First Alaskans and Port Protection.  She oversaw the launch of Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, providing creative direction and collaborating with the production team on the show’s distinct identity throughout its three-season run.  Whitney is BBC Studios Executive Producer for Life Below Zero, which has been honored with a total of 9 Emmy Awards and 19 Emmy nominations.

Over the past four years at BBC Studios, Whitney has also produced When Nature Calls with Helen Mirren on ABC, the provocative series Ex-Rated hosted by Andy Cohen on Peacock, and the critically acclaimed docuseries Wrestlers on Netflix which was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Prior to joining BBC Studios, Whitney served as a freelance producer, working in casting, field, and post, across multiple genres ranging from competition to documentaries, house reality, dating, food, and game shows.  The series she has produced include Flipping Out (Bravo), Are You the One? (MTV), The American Barbecue Showdown (Netflix), Say I Do (Netflix), The Joe Schmo Show (Spike), Generation Cryo (MTV), Buckwild (MTV), Slednecks (MTV), Redneck Island (CMT), The Week the Women Went (Lifetime), You’re Cut Off (VH1), Plain Jane (CW) and more.

Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Entertainment Studies, from California State University, Fullerton.

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