Betsy Sanner Ayala currently serves as Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery where she oversees all Food Network programming, development and operations. Series under her oversight include such long-running hits as Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Guy’s Grocery Games, as well as annual tentpoles such as BBQ Brawl, Tournament of Champions, Worst Cooks in America and seasonal stunts like Halloween Wars and Holiday Baking Championship, and more. More recently Ayala launched successful series 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, Bobby’s Triple Threat, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Wildcard Kitchen, as well as the Emmy-nominated Selena + Restaurant.

Prior to this role Ayala was Senior Vice President, Production & Development, Food Network and HGTV, with oversight of development and production teams at both brands. She is credited with the success of such HGTV hit series as Rock the Block, Home Town Takeover, Good Bones, Windy City Rehab and No Demo Reno. Ayala is also behind the creation of Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge and discovery+ series Selling the Hamptons, Kendra Sells Hollywood and Queen of Versailles Reigns Again.

Food Network and HGTV are two of the biggest and most valuable brands in the industry, ranking as Top 10 cable networks, and in 2024, Food Network and HGTV reached nearly 58 million combined viewers per month in total day.

Last year, Ayala’s efforts helped position Food Network and HGTV as leaders in the industry with the launch of top freshman hits, including such titles as Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, Wildcard Kitchen and The Flip Off.

Ayala joined Scripps Networks Interactive in 2016 as Vice President of Programming, HGTV and eventually worked across multiple networks including Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and the Polish network TVN where she created the series, Mediterranean Life.

With more than 20 years of television and digital programming experience, Ayala is adept at creating and producing all genres of programming from competition and live dailies to event series and docu-soaps. Previously, Ayala was Head of Production at PTA Networks, a digital streaming television travel network and served as an Executive Producer for YouTube/Google channels. She also served as Executive Producer and Head of New Development for Moxie Pictures, home of such multi-season successes as Animal Planet’s Ice Cold Gold and FYI’s Arranged.

Her prior television experience includes developing and producing programming for the NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, NBC Sports and ESPN, including such major events as The Olympic Games and X Games. She also managed programming development and production for Plum TV, the luxury lifestyle network.

In 2024 Ayala was named to Variety’s Reality Impact list and recognized for her role and influence within the reality and unscripted TV landscape. She was also named one of Cynopsis’ Top Women in Media and Cablefax’s Most Powerful Women in Media in 2024 and 2023. Ayala is a member of The Television Academy and holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University in broadcast journalism and received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.