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Netflix hires hot-shot producer Shonda Rhimes

Last updated: 10:22 14 Aug 2017 EDT, First published: 05:22 14 Aug 2017 EDT

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In a further example of the old adage “content is king”, media streaming pioneer Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) has recruited successful television producer/writer Shonda Rhimes.

Rhimes is the creator of ABC hits such as “Scandal”, “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Grey’s Anatomy”. She was described, possibly with a trace of hyperbole, as “one of the greatest storytellers in the history of television” by Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer at Netflix.

Her production company, Shondaland, has signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce new series and other projects.

“The future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities,” Rhimes gushed, as she said the collaboration would provide the opportunity to “build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation”.

The move has been seen by Netflix as a riposte to the move last week by Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) to set up its own streaming services and to terminate its distribution agreement with Netflix in 2019.

Content providers such as Disney have seen which way the wind is blowing in home entertainment and are increasingly likely to want to cut out the middle-man and sell their content directly to customers; the response of broadcasters and content disseminators seems to be to make more content in-house that it can control.

Shares in Netflix were off 1.3% at US$169.11 in a rising market in the first hour of trading.

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