“Scandal” Producer, Shonda Rhimes Ends Contract With ABC To Join Netflix After Disney Pulled Its Content

Netflix is reportedly planning to spend $6b on original content in 2017

It appears that the twist between Disney and Netflix for entertainment industry supremacy is not over just yet. Just last week, Disney which owns ABC announced its decision to quit doing business with Netflix by launching its own streaming service. Now, it turns out that the super producer is ditching ABC for Netflix.

This new turn sure has lots of implications for both competitors- ABC loses its high rated script producer, while Netflix(which was in tears last week) adds “another weapon to its arsenal” (as TV guide puts it).

It’s not only the streaming service that’s greatly affected by Rhimes’ move. What will become of the great shows currently in production with ABC Studios? It’s pretty simple! All the shows will continue to air on the studio. Currently, the top scripted hit maker’s company still has five shows: Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal (my favourite), How to Get Away with Murder, the Grey’s firehouse spin-off and the upcoming legal drama, For the People.

 Our shows will continue to thrive on ABC and Shondaland will be there every step of the way. I could not have asked for a better home to begin my career. I continue to be grateful to work with so many talented peoples- especially our studio gladiator(ABC Studios President) Patrick Moran and our most powerful and brilliant champion (ABC Entertainment President) Channing Dungery. Starting today, we are thrilled to begin creating new Shondaland stories with Netflix. Everyone at Shondaland is honoured to expand both our audience and our creative identity with Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos and the entire team at Netflix

Rhimes and her producing partner, Betsy Beers will move their productions to Netflix where they are expected to do more great productions. Nevertheless, the other producers Pete Nowalk, Krista Vernoff, Stacy McKee Don Todd and the others still have their contract with ABC studios. Rhimes’ and Beers’ great talent will be greatly missed by ABC Studios. The President, Moran said:

We’re so proud of the work we’ve done with Shonda and Betsy throughout our long productive relationship. From the worldwide success of Grey’s Anatomy to today, with five series, a pilot from Allan Heinberg and a number of projects in development, we will continue to shepherd that success together. The Shondaland imprint will always be an important part of ABC studios and we wish them all the best in this new endeavour.

Although, sources reveal that Rhimes may have been renegotiating with ABC studios over the past months, she deserves a push for her accomplishments. According to Hollywood reporter, she’s the first African-American woman to reach the 100 episode milestone three times in her career and the first to be nominated for best drama actress in the past 18 years.

Even If her  departure leaves a huge blow for the streaming studio, she remains one of TV’s most powerful show runners and in fact her presence helped ABC gain prominence too.

Whatever the situation, Netflix is back on top of its game as the world’s No.1 content provider.