Fifth Season names Jennifer Ebell as next distribution head

Global film and TV studio Fifth Season has appointed Jennifer Ebell as the new head of its International Television Distribution business. She will assume the position of EVP Television Distribution on March 31, 2025, coinciding with the departure of Prentiss Fraser, the current President of Television Distribution.

Currently serving as EVP of EMEA Sales and Acquisitions, Ebell will oversee Fifth Season’s Television Distribution team, strategy, operations, and partnerships across both scripted and unscripted programming. Fifth Season’s distribution operation is based in London, with over 60 executives working from offices in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Stockholm, and Beijing. Key team members include Alistair Jennings, SVP Sales, Asia Pacific; Travis Webb, SVP Sales, Americas; and Arvand Khosravi, SVP Scripted TV Strategy. Ebell will report directly to Fifth Season’s co-CEOs, Chris Rice and Graham Taylor.

Chris Rice and Graham Taylor expressed their thoughts on the leadership transition: “Creating an unorthodox, tailored, and relentlessly creative approach to distribution was the genesis of Fifth Season as a business, and Prentiss has spent the last five years building on this with us – turning the division into a powerhouse with global recognition and best-in-class content. We’re grateful to her for everything she’s done during her tenure and have adored working with her. We are deeply excited to see Jen step into the role. Since joining us several years ago, Jen has shown herself to be an insightful and strategic leader, an incredible distribution executive, a tastemaker with deep industry relationships, and a strong sense of what makes our company distinctive – which makes her the perfect candidate to take the team forward," commented.

Fifth Season’s distribution slate features premium content, including its own productions such as "Nine Perfect Strangers", "Severance", and "Tokyo Vice", alongside acclaimed third-party titles like "Killing Eve", "The Night Manager", "Normal People", and "The Morning Show".

Before joining Fifth Season in 2020, Jennifer was SVP of EMEA Sales at ITV Studios Global Entertainment. In that role, she led a team that managed a diverse portfolio of finished programs and formats. She played a key role in spearheading major scripted titles, including Mammoth Screen’s !World on Fire!, Route 24’s "Signora Volpe", and Apple Tree’s "Blackwater". Additionally, she oversaw the rollout of prominent franchises such as "I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here", "Hell’s Kitchen", and "Come Dine with Me". Ebell began her career at Comcast’s E! Entertainment Television in Los Angeles.