Netflix inks Rhimes to exclusive deal
Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal creator signs multi-year contract with streaming giant
In a huge blow to ABC and Disney, prolific hitmaker Shonda Rhimes has signed an exclusive deal with Netflix, the streaming giant announced early Monday.
Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder— all hits for ABC — will bring Shondaland over to Netflix in what the streaming service said was a multi-year deal.
Those series and ones currently in development will remain on ABC, although Netflix already has the streaming rights for the back library for Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. The move amounts to a major counterpunch to Disney’s announcement last week that it was starting a pair of its own streaming services, including one that would force the removal of several Disney and Pixar movies from Netflix in the next two years.
Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, said in a statement: “I’ve gotten the chance to know Shonda and she’s a true Netflixer at heart — she loves TV and films, she cares passionately about her work, and she delivers for her audience.”
Rhimes said in her own statement: “Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company. Ted provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix. He understood what I was looking for — 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 future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities.”
The deal was reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal. Rhimes has been with ABC for more than a decade and has long been one of the biggest names at the network. She has been a reliable gen- erator of hits, including building an entire Thursday-night lineup that ABC’s marketing department has dubbed #TGIT.
Although it has been a ratings force, the lineup has showed signs of wear and tear recently. Grey’s Anatomy, which will begin season 14 in September, remains a big hit with sturdy ratings, but Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder have seen their ratings nosedive in the past two years. One of Rhimes’ newer shows, The Catch, was cancelled this year.
ABC has announced that Scandal will end after this coming season, something the network tried to turn into a marketing bonanza at its annual advertiser pitch in May.
Rhimes’ development slate at ABC will not suddenly vaporize. In addition to keeping its Thursday-night lineup for the coming season, the network still has a midseason show expected from Rhimes, titled For the People, and a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff
“She’s a true Netflixer at heart — she loves TV and films, she cares passionately about her work, and she delivers for her audience.” TED SARANDOS NETFLIX’S CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER
that is in pre-production, among some other projects in development.
Nevertheless, losing her is enormous for ABC and its corporate parent, Disney. The network finished in last place among the advertiser-coveted demographic for a second straight season, and although it is doing fine with comedies, it badly needs a hit drama. In the coming season, the network has been pinning its hopes on revivals like American Idol and Roseanne to improve its standing in the ratings.
In a statement, ABC’s entertain- ment president Channing Dungey said, “I’m proud to have given a home to what have become some of the most-celebrated and talked-about shows on television. With the launch of a new season upon us, fans can rest assured that TGIT remains intact and will be as buzzed about as ever.” For Netflix, this is more of the same. The streaming service has been on an unprecedented spending spree, spreading billions on acquiring bigname talent. In addition to cornering the market on standup comics like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, just last week the streaming service said it was bringing in the Coen brothers for a new limited series and David Letterman for a new interview-based show.
The latest moves also come as digital rivals like Apple and Facebook have taken steps that suggest they are prepared to become serious players in the scripted and unscripted television game.