At a young age, Rebecca Glashow learned a lesson from her father, Sheldon, a Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist: If you do what you love, you’ll live a long, happy life.

Glashow loved television — not exactly a science, but she did discover there was an industry behind the scenes in which she could have a career. She started as an assistant at Unapix. “My claim to fame is we passed on Kissing Jessica Stein and The Blair Witch Project,” she recalled. At Unapix, she saw how programming makes money. “I learned the life cycle of content and it really served me well through my career,” she said.

That career has taken her to In Demand, Comcast, Discovery, Awesomeness, Viacom and now to BBC Studios, where in February she was promoted to CEO, Global Distribution. 

Glashow talked with Broadcasting+Cable business editor Jon Lafayette in an interview that has been edited for space.

What makes the BBC unique in an era of global media? The BBC has always been in the global business in a truly authentic way. In some ways, we invented the global model. We were supplying quality content across natural history, scripted, formats, comedy and news to some of the largest channel partners in the world, long before the streaming giants realized they should conquer the globe.

The BBC itself is setting up its own streaming outlets. Why? Our brand is unique, despite not putting much into marketing or brand-building over the years. Both the brand and our IP [intellectual property] ownership really allows us to lean into all the new business models. We’ve placed some bets where we feel we can compete. One is with BBC Select, a documentary service. We have been delivering in that category for many decades. BritBox, which is a JV with ITV, is about bringing independent British drama into the marketplace. There’s a huge appetite for that content and no clear home for it. With our library, we’ve been able to build out quite a few [free, ad-supported TV or FAST] channels with Antiques Roadshow and classic Doctor Who. And recently we sold exclusive rights to Sherlock to Crackle Plus.

What’s new and hot from BBC Studios? It’s almost impossible to have a breakthrough preschool brand, but Bluey is one of the most exciting brands we have. It originated out of Australia and is one of the top shows on Disney Plus. It’s also a breakthrough in the consumer-product space, competing with longtime brands like Paw Patrol. It’s a transformative representation of family dynamics and parenting that is probably going to be raising kids for decades.

BBC Studios produces Dancing with the Stars. What’s up with the move to Disney Plus from ABC? We are fully supportive. Their ability to bring that audience to a streaming platform is paramount to them. They also announced that this is for multiple seasons, so we’re going to be in business for some time on that show. We’re seeing the strongest numbers you can see on broadcast television, but that’s not a growing platform. Our job is to deliver audience to our partners, so we have to remain platform-agnostic because we have to follow the audiences.

What do you do for fun? I have three school-age children, but I run marathons. I just signed up for the New York City Marathon for charity. I do it for charity because that keeps me accountable to a lot of people. Most of my life is about winning. Marathon running is really humbling, something in your life where it’s about the process and the accomplishment and not about the prize. Or the win. My one win is in our last race, I ran it faster than my brother. ▪️

BBC Studios said it is promoting Rebecca Glashow to CEO, global distribution, a new post, effective March 1.

Glashow, who had been president of BBC Studios America, takes on some responsibilities formerly held by Paul Dempsey who had been president of global distribution, and is becoming BBC Studios’ director of performance.

In her new role, Glashow will be responsible for content sales, direct-to-consumer services, international channels and co-productions outside the U.K. and Ireland, as well as for the growth of BBC’s digital global news business.

Also: BBC Studios Adds Jennie Baird To Growing U.S. Digital News Team

“Rebecca’s promotion reflects her successful leadership style and thoughtful strategic approach which has grown and expanded the BBC Studios Americas’ portfolio of diverse businesses,” said BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell. “I am delighted she will spearhead our next phase of growth across our Global Distribution division. She’s a fearless leader, full of ideas and energy for bringing outstanding British content to viewers around the world, to meet our global ambition.”

Glashow will also become a member of BBC Studios' executive committee.

Before joining BBC Studios - Americas, Glashow was co-head of Viacom’s Awesomeness unit. Earlier she held posts at Discovery Communications and was an executive producer for Netflix.

“I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role. I’m hugely passionate about the BBC and see great opportunities for further commercial growth and building new audiences for our world-class content,” Glashow said.

Dempsey led BBC Studios’ international distribution operation for 10 years, leading the expansion of many businesses including Britbox.

“I’m pleased that Paul will be passing the baton to Rebecca with the business in such good health,” said Fussell.

“I am thrilled that Paul will be our director of performance, showing our commitment to supporting world-class performance at a time of major growth opportunity for the company. We are fortunate to have someone of Paul’s talents leading this for the whole of BBC Studios,” he said.

‘‘It has been a long-held ambition of mine to move into a role specializing in individual and team performance,” Dempsey said. “As our company embarks on the next stage of its growth story, I can’t think of a more exciting or relevant time to be moving into this new area.” ■

Multichannel News has named the 2012 "Wonder Women" class of cable-TV executives, who'll be celebrated at a luncheon on March 13.

The 12 dynamic, decision-making executives, chosen by the magazine's editors on the basis of nominations, are:

Karen Dougherty Buchholz, vice president of administration at Comcast

Marissa Freeman, senior vice president of brand strategy and marketing communications at Time Warner Cable

Gemma Toner, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Cablevision Systems

Mary Meduski, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Suddenlink Communications

Dana Zimmer, executive vice president of TV networks distribution at NBCUniversal

Lori LeBas, senior vice president of strategy and business operations at ESPN

Jennifer Ball, senior vice president of affiliate marketing and distribution at Univision Communications

Rhonda Holt, senior vice president of media platform technologies and operations at Turner Broadcasting System

Sherry Brennan, senior vice president of distribution strategy and development at Fox Networks

Rebecca Glashow, senior vice president of digital media distribution at Discovery Communications

Michelle Vicary, executive vice president of programming at Crown Media Family Networks

Kellie Grutko, vice president of marketing, at Comcast Spotlight

In January, Multichannel News will profile these accomplished female executives, along with the magazine's choice of "Women To Watch."

This is the 14th annual class of "Wonder Women." For videos from this past March's luncheon, honoring the 2011 class (pictured above), please click this link.

For more information about the March 13, 2012, luncheon at the Hilton New York, contact Sandy Friedman at sfriedman@nbmedia.com.