Lawrence Szabo joins BBC Studios as EVP of US Content Distribution

BBC Studios has appointed Lawrence Szabo as its new Executive Vice President of US Content Distribution. Based in Los Angeles, he will report to Janet Brown, the company’s President of Content Distribution for North America and Latin America.

According to the company, Szabo will lead a team of licensing specialists for scripted and factual programming, pursuing co-production and content acquisition deals across the full landscape of streaming platforms and linear networks. He will also play a key role in shaping BBC Studios’ strategic direction and generating growth and profit across the region’s content licensing division.

“Lawrence comes to us with a proven track record on both sides of the table, and across a range of genres. His passion for great content, thoughtful sales strategies and deep respect for buyers has earned him an incredible network of relationships across the industry. I am truly delighted to welcome him to the team at BBC Studios,”  Brown commented.

“I am thrilled to join BBC Studios, a creative powerhouse that has built a strong and diverse content pipeline generating literally thousands of hours of programming annually spanning an unparalleled range of genres and specialties. I am excited for the opportunity to tap into BBC Studios’ beloved brand to offer the most compelling programming solutions to streaming platforms and linear networks in the region,”  Szabo declared.

Szabo joins BBC Studios from Paramount Global, where he was Senior Executive of Program Acquisitions, working across Paramount+, Pluto TV, MTV Entertainment Networks, Nickelodeon, BET, and Showtime. Among the thousands of hours he acquired in that role, he took the streaming rights to CBS sitcom “Ghosts,” which BBC Studios co-produces, and the cable rights for the “Indiana Jones” and “John Wick” film franchises.