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Netflix’s Liz Franco Joins Amazon’s Nonfiction Team
Amazon has hired Liz Franco, an experienced Netflix executive, as a Creative Executive to strengthen its documentary and nonfiction programming team. Franco, who spent five years at Netflix developing acclaimed docuseries, will report to Ariane Wu, who recently joined Amazon from Netflix in a senior documentary role. The hire reflects Amazon's strategy of recruiting established talent from competitors to enhance its documentary slate.
Franco brings substantial experience in high-profile documentary productions, having worked on series including "Simone Biles Rising," "American Murder: Gabby Petito," "Sean Combs: The Reckoning," "Chef's Table," and "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?" during her tenure at Netflix since October 2021. Prior to Netflix, she spent two years at CNN producing programmes such as "United Shades of America" and "This Is Life with Lisa Ling," and previously held positions at Vox Media and WME. Amazon's documentary leadership stated that Franco's "extensive documentary executive experience" would be "crucial to building a slate of must-watch, immersive, top-tier documentaries."
In short
- Amazon hires experienced Netflix executive to expand documentary programming capabilities
- Franco brings five years Netflix experience plus prior CNN background
- She joins colleague Ariane Wu, previously recruited from Netflix
Explained simply
Streaming services invest in films and series that can keep subscribers interested, including documentaries, which tell true stories using interviews, archive footage and other evidence. The people who choose and develop these programmes help shape what gets made and how it is presented.
Liz Franco has worked in television and media for several years, including on documentary series at Netflix and CNN. At Amazon, she will work on nonfiction programming and report to Ariane Wu, who also joined Amazon after working at Netflix.
Amazon and Netflix compete for viewers as well as for experienced staff and programme makers. Hiring executives with documentary experience can help a service develop its range of programmes, though it does not determine which projects will ultimately be made.