LONDON, 13 January, 2025 — Avalon today announces the promotion of Paula Warwick to the role of Head of Distribution, following the retirement of long-time Director of Distribution, Isobel Hughes. Avalon will also expand the senior distribution team, with Adam Barth joining as SVP Scripted & Digital Distribution, working alongside Carly Hardman-Betts who continues as SVP Global Formats & Programme Sales. Over the past decade Isobel Hughes and Carly Hardman-Betts have together built Avalon’s distribution business into one of the pre-eminent distributors of independent content, with a strategic commitment to maximizing the value of content on behalf of the studio and its content creator partners. Avalon’s library of over 4,000 episodes is distributed in 150 markets around the world, across linear, cable, streaming and AVOD platforms.
Under the new leadership structure, Warwick will lead the distribution team that has seen continual growth with both scripted shows such as Starstruck, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Not Going Out, Breeders and Catastrophe, as well as unscripted formats such as Taskmaster and Dog’s Behaving Very Badly. Paula Warwick, a creative and commercial TV executive with 20+ years’ experience, has launched and grown a number of global TV franchises including Masterchef, Hell’s Kitchen, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, The Biggest Loser and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Warwick steps up from her current role at Avalon where she was responsible for the international roll-out of the Taskmaster format in international markets. She has previously held positions of Head of International Formats at Lionsgate, Head of International Productions at Shine Group and Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV.
Adam Barth joins Avalon from Eccho Rights/Night Train Media where he held the role of Head of Commercial & Distribution and Director of Co-Productions. Barth worked, and is an executive producer, on shows including, Vanishing Triangle, As Long As We Live, The Inheritance, Granite Harbour and the upcoming Safe Harbor. Prior to this, Barth worked at NENT Studios UK (formerly DRG), where he was Commercial Director & SVP for EMEA and New Media Vision, working on international format adaptations including Mysteries of Laura, Shameless, and Doc Martin.
Carly Hardman-Betts joined Avalon’s distribution team in 2007 working across all territories and across both scripted and unscripted series. Hardman-Betts was responsible for setting up the Taskmaster franchise in over 10 territories, including international Avalon productions in Australia (Network 10), Norway (TV Norge) and Sweden (TV4). Hardman-Betts started her career in production at ITV.
Laura Kennedy, Avalon CEO, said: “We are excited to announce Paula as our new distribution head and delighted to welcome Adam to the company. I know Paula, along with a brilliant team, will continue to build on Isobel’s success. I would like to say a massive thank you to Isobel for her dedication over the years, scaling Avalon’s distribution business into an independent powerhouse.”
Paula Warwick, Head of Distribution, said: “To head up the distribution business at Avalon is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to continue working with its world-class creative teams, to bring the absolute best shows across scripted and unscripted to our partners around the world.”
Adam Barth, SVP Scripted & Digital Distribution, said: “I’m thrilled to join the distribution team at Avalon and collaborate with their talented group. Avalon’s track record speaks for itself, and I’m excited to maximize licensing opportunities for Avalon’s impressive catalogue and upcoming scripted slate.”
Carly Hardman-Betts, SVP Global Formats & Programme Sales, added: “I’m excited to start the new year at Avalon with this exceptionally talented new team in place. Isobel will be greatly missed by all of us here and everyone in the business who has worked with her.”
Avalon is a leading global talent management company and the UK’s largest true independent television production company with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Breeders (FX/Sky); and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (Channel 5). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of hit programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning over 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from 100+ nominations.
Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses programmes and formats to global markets. With over 4,000 episodes of programming in its catalogue, and content sold into over 150 countries worldwide, across a range of genres including comedy, entertainment, comedy drama and factual.
For further information contact: Dan Lloyd at Avalon on 020 7598 7222 / [email protected]
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York.
Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners.
Avalon is the UK’s largest true independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver(HBO); Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Breeders (FX/Sky); and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly(Channel 5). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of hit programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning over 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from 100+ nominations.
Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp(ITV), and the cult classic workplace sitcom Workaholics (Comedy Central). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO, Netflix and Sky, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the UK’s second most popular podcast, Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide.
Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical in the West End, winner of two Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in 2024, as well as Taskmaster: The Live Experience, a new London visitor attraction based on the TV show.
For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
