Netflix signs 'Black-ish' creator Kenya Barris for content push

(Reuters) - Netflix Inc has signed a deal with American television producer and writer Kenya Barris, the creator of ABC's comedy show "Black-ish", as the streaming giant diversifies its original content. Emmy-nominated Barris will write and produce projects under his production company Khalabo Ink Society, the company said in a statement https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-makes-overall-series-deal-with-kenya-barris on Thursday. The multi-year agreement is valued at about $100 million, Variety reported, citing a source with knowledge of the negotiations. Netflix, which has a string of successful original U.S. shows such as "Orange is the New Black" and "Stranger Things", has budgeted $8 billion for programming in 2018. With the deal, Barris - who also co-created "America's Next Top Model" - joins a list of TV-hitmakers that Netflix has struck deals with including "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes. (This version of the story changes headline to 'signs') (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)