Netflix Signs Shonda Rhimes in Counterpunch to ABC and Disney<br />Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, said in a statement, “I’ve gotten the chance to know Shonda<br />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.”<br />Ms. Rhimes said in her own statement: “Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos<br />and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company.<br />Those series and ones in development will remain on ABC, though Netflix already has<br />the streaming rights for the back library for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.”<br />Netflix’s move is a major counterpunch to Disney’s announcement last week<br />that it was starting its own streaming services, including one that would force the removal of Disney and Pixar movies from Netflix.<br />“Grey’s Anatomy,” which will begin Season 14 in September, remains a hit with sturdy ratings,<br />but the ratings for “Scandal” have nose dived and “The Catch,” co-produced by Ms. Rhimes, was canceled in May.<br />Ms. Rhimes, the creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” — hits for ABC — will bring<br />Shondaland to Netflix in what the streaming service said was a multiyear deal.<br />In addition to keeping its Thursday lineup for the coming season, ABC still has a midseason show<br />that is expected from Ms. Rhimes, “For the People,” and a “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff that is in preproduction, among some other projects in development.
