BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC Group and a leading global content studio bringing the best of British IP to audiences around the world, announced the formation of a new Global Content Sales function, which will be led by Janet Brown, effective November 1, 2024. In an expanded role, as President of Global Content Sales, Brown will oversee content sales across all regions, centralizing global operations and content investment. Brown will continue reporting to Rebecca Glashow, CEO of BBC Global Media & Streaming.
Rebecca Glashow explained the strategy: “BBC Studios is fortunate to work with outstanding creatives and partners to bring world leading British IP to audiences around the world and we’ve enjoyed tremendous growth and momentum. As the marketplace evolves, it’s clear that the depth of our global reach is critical as we secure the widest possible reach for our content. Janet’s leadership in this global role will allow us to continue delivering the best of BBC Studios to our global partners. Janet brings a unique breadth of experience in creative dealmaking and managing content distribution across multiple regions, making her well-suited to lead our new Global Content Sales function," expressed.
Since joining the company in 2022, Brown most recently led BBC Studios distribution initiatives for the North America and LatAm region. Prior to BBC Studios, Brown led global content sales, distribution and commercial operations across all rights types and content formats for Gunpowder & Sky, then part of AT&T/ Warner Media. Previously, she grew the pioneering indie film distribution company FilmBuff from start-up to established industry player ultimately leading to its sale to Otter Media/ Gunpowder & Sky.
Janet Brown described the potential of the new organization: “It's truly such an exciting time for BBC Studios. As international stories fuel viewership across platforms, our unmatched depth of content across genres, combined with our ability to facilitate innovative funding strategies, uniquely positions us to bring even more world-leading content to audiences. This unified, global approach to content sales will allow us to build on this success and super serve every network group and streaming platform around the world," commented.
As part of the change, BBC Studios will recruit for a new EVP, Global Content Sales based in London and reporting to Brown. This role will serve as a key global partner for the company’s production team and invested production labels. As the UK studio of choice for partners around the world, BBC Studios delivers critically acclaimed content with global appeal, including "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder", a co-production with ZDFneo and Netflix, premiered at No. 1 on Netflix; EMMY-winning "Baby Reindeer and The Gentlemen", two of the most-watched shows on Netflix in 2024; "Death in Paradise" and "Beyond Paradise", which captivate millions of viewers across Europe; plus "Doctor Who" on Disney+, which continues to captivate international audiences and Bluey on Disney+, the most-watched show on streaming in the U.S.