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Netflix hires former ABC chief Dungey

SVoD giant Netflix has hired the former president of ABC Entertainment as it continues to poach senior executives from traditional television companies around the world.

Channing Dungey

The streamer has appointed Channing Dungey to the newly created role of VP of original content, barely a month after she decide to leave US network ABC after 14 years.

In her new role, Dungey will report to Cindy Holland, VP of original content, working with her to steer strategy, as well as overseeing a large part of Netflix’s originals slate. This will include working with high-profile producers such as Shonda Rhimes, Jenji Kohan, Kenya Barris, Steven DeKnight and Marti Noxon.

Dungey left ABC in November after three years as president, saying she was proud of the “meaningful and impactful programming” she and her team had developed.

Under her watch, ABC procured a number of hits including The Good Doctor, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Black-ish, Designated Survivor, American Crime, Nashville, The Rookie and Criminal Minds.

She becomes the second top ABC name to move to the streamer in the past six months, following Black-ish creator Barris’s arrival in August, and the third in the past 18 months after Rhimes led the exodus from broadcast, satellite and cable TV into the SVoD space.

Netflix’s hiring of a leading strategic exec from an established US outfit mirrors its appointment of Anne Mensah, former director of drama at satcaster Sky, as its first London-based VP of content.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content office, called Dungey a “risk-taker and ground-breaker” who is respected throughout the industry.

“I’m drawn to the forward-thinking, risk-taking and creative culture at Netflix, and the deeply talented people there, especially Ted and Cindy, with whom I’m excited to partner on setting the strategy for original content,” said Dungey.

“Given that ABC, the place I’ve called home for nearly 15 years, represents the gold standard of traditional broadcast, it feels like the perfect next step for me to join Netflix, the unparalleled leader in streaming. I’m invigorated by the challenges ahead and the opportunity to forge new relationships, and excited for the very welcome reunion with incredible talent.”

In related news, Netflix has picked up Israeli religious-romance drama Shtisel after agreeing a deal with local producer and distributor Dori Media.

The SVoD service has acquired the first two seasons of the drama, which began streaming on the platform this month. It joins Dori’s The Road to Calvary and El Marginal, which are currently airing on Netflix.

Created and written by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky and produced by Fremantle-owned Abot Hameiri Productions, Shtisel follows a young ultra-orthodox bachelor and his widowed father who share an apartment while searching for love within the strict rules of religious observance.

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