Channing Dungey is joining Netflix as vice president of original content, reporting to Cindy Holland, vice president of original content. Dungey joins from ABC Entertainment Group, where she spent the past three years as network president.
She is expected to start in February, 2019.
Currently Holland’s original series team manages programming, and in this newly created role, Channing will partner with Cindy in setting strategic direction as well as in overseeing a large and crucial portion of the slate, including some of the company’s overall deals with prolific producers including Shonda Rhimes, Jenji Kohan, Kenya Barris, Steven DeKnight, Marti Noxon, and Higher Ground Productions, among others.
“Channing is a creative force whose taste and talent have earned her the admiration of her peers across the industry. She’s a risk taker and ground-breaker and talent love working with her. I couldn’t be happier to welcome her to Netflix,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.
“We’re delighted to be adding Channing’s expertise, leadership and deep experience to Netflix, and I look forward to partnering with her as we continue to grow and evolve our global network. I have been a fan of her character and approach from our early days as executives” said Cindy Holland, Netflix vice president of original series.
“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.”
Dungey most recently served as president of ABC Entertainment, overseeing all development, programming, marketing and scheduling operations for ABC prime time and late-night. During her tenure, she shepherded in a wide variety of successful programming, including the hit drama The Good Doctor, and the successful return of American Idol.
Dungey’s successful career in entertainment has spanned both television and film. She partnered with Pamela Post, and formed Dexterity Pictures, a production partnership focused on making both studio and independent films, as well as developing television series. She also served as president of Material, a film production company with a first-look deal at Warner Bros. Prior to that, she served for five years as a Warner Bros. production executive, helping to develop and supervise a diverse range of commercially successful, critically acclaimed films.
Dungey is also a Los Angeles member of BAFTA and serves on the Motion Picture Television Foundation Board of Governors.