MUMBAI: Global online giant Yahoo has hired a former ABC television programmer Lloyd Braun to head its media and entertainment division.

Braun was the brains behind HBO's gangster saga The Sopranos. His brief involves convincing movie, TV and music companies to distribute more content exclusively on Yahoo

The 46-year-old Braun will also try to create original programming for the 90 million visitors a month to the company's Web sites.

Yahoo has stated that Braun is the right executive to bring a new creative dimension to its plans to provide Web users with services in areas including news, sports, health, finance and games, as well as future areas of entertainment.

Braun left a struggling ABC last April. However ABC went on to hit the jackpot with Desperate Housewives. Braun had come up with the core idea for that show.

Braun noted that coming broadband technology will greatly enhance the opportunities for Yahoo to expand its entertainment options.