Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 15 augusT 2017
Netflix wins ‘Scandal’ creator

Rhimes in blow to Disney, ABC

By TALI ARBEL own for kids and launching ters into movies and shows.
AP Technology Writer an online-subscription ver- Rhimes wrote in a state-
NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix sion of ESPN. ment that she was grateful
has lured Shonda Rhimes, Disney said it will pull Disney to ABC for giving her career
the well-regarded creator and Pixar movies and shows a start, but she was looking
of TV series “Scandal” and from Netflix for the new ser- forward to expanding her
“Grey’s Anatomy,” from vice aimed at kids, expect- audience and “creative
ABC, its latest big get as ed to launch in 2019. ABC identity” with Netflix.
media companies old and shows won’t be included, Rhimes’ shows are known
In this April 8, 2017, file photo, Shonda Rhimes attends the new fight for viewers’ at- but Disney has hinted that for their diverse casts, cliff-
“Scandal” 100th Episode Celebration at Fig & Olive in West tention. it could shift more content hangers and dramatic
Hollywood, Calif. The streaming service’s an- to this new model. Disney twists set in American insti-
Associated Press nouncement late Sunday is also launching an ESPN tutions like universities, hos-
comes just days after ABC streaming service, without pitals and the White House.
owner Disney laid out plans pro football and basket- “Shonda Rhimes paved
to pull programming from ball, early next year. It has the way for a lot of the
Netflix. said it might also sell the full transformation that we are
Netflix said Rhimes’ Shon- ESPN channel directly to seeing in television today,”
daland production com- viewers online if viewership said UCLA professor Darnell
pany is moving to Netflix disintegrates; currently, a Hunt, who studies diversity
for a multi-year deal. New cable or satellite subscrip- in the entertainment indus-
ideas and projects from tion is required. try.
Rhimes and her producing Disney is setting itself up for Hunt said television execu-
partner, Betsy Beers, will be the future as ratings for tra- tives are beginning to un-
available on the streaming ditional TV have suffered. derstand that getting more
service. Competition for viewers is minorities in top roles isn’t
“Starting today, we are increasing and attention just marketable, but “de-
thrilled to begin creating is shifting online, where manded by increasingly di-
new Shondaland stories video can be watched on verse audiences.” He said
with Netflix,” Rhimes wrote. a viewer’s schedule — an digital platforms like Netflix
But her existing, well-known option Netflix has taught have lagged traditional TV
shows — “Grey’s Anato- viewers to love. in diversity — and Rhimes
my,” ‘’Scandal” and “How ABC ended the traditional could help change that.
to Get Away With Murder” TV season in May at the No. Rhimes wrote that she and
— will remain on the net- 3 slot among the big broad- Netflix Chief Content Offi-
work. Upcoming Shonda- casters and down 9 per- cer Ted Sarandos had de-
land projects already in the cent in the ratings, accord- veloped a plan for the next
works, like the drama “For ing to Nielsen. It’s rebooting phase of her career. She
the People” and a “Grey’s” “Roseanne” and “Ameri- said Netflix offered her and
spinoff, will also still stay can Idol” in the 2017-18 her team “limitless possibili-
with ABC. Rhimes has had season and bringing back ties.”
exclusive deals with ABC popular comedies “black- “I’ve gotten the chance
Studios for nearly 15 years. ish” and “Modern Family.” to know Shonda and she’s
ABC Entertainment presi- Netflix continues to invest in a true Netflixer at heart —
dent Channing Dungey more original programming she loves TV and films, she
said “fans can rest assured” to win those eyeballs. It’s cares passionately about
that the network’s Thursday not competing with just ca- her work, and she delivers
night lineup of Rhimes-pro- ble anymore. Traditional TV for her audience,” Saran-
duced shows “remains in- companies have launched dos wrote.
tact and will be as buzzed or are planning a slew of Rhimes, 47, has been nomi-
about as ever.” Rhimes’ streaming services , and nated for three Emmy
shows have been among tech companies like Ama- Awards, all for her work
ABC’s top-rated series. zon and Google’s You- on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The
“I’m proud to have given Tube have as well. In the long-running series begins
a home to what have be- past few weeks, Netflix has its 14th season next month.
come some of the most signed up David Letterman “Scandal” will return for its
celebrated and talked and bought a comic book seventh and final season in
about shows on television,” publisher to turn its charac- October.q
Dungey said in an emailed
statement.
Financial terms of the Net-
flix deal weren’t disclosed,
nor were details on how
long Rhimes and her com-
pany will produce series for
Netflix.
Disney, meanwhile, said last
week that it was creating a
new streaming service of its