Obama in Talks to Provide Shows for Netflix

[babylonsister]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/us/politics/obama-netflix-shows.html

Obama in Talks to Provide Shows for Netflix

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR, KATIE BENNER and JOHN KOBLIN
MARCH 8, 2018


WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama is in advanced negotiations with Netflix to produce a series of high-profile shows that will provide him a global platform after his departure from the White House, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Under terms of a proposed deal, which is not yet final, Netflix would pay Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, for exclusive content that would be available only on the streaming service, which has nearly 118 million subscribers around the world. The number of episodes and the formats for the shows have not been decided.

Mr. Obama does not intend to use his Netflix shows to directly respond to President Trump or conservative critics, according to people familiar with discussions about the programming. They said the Obamas had talked about producing shows that highlight inspirational stories.

But the Netflix deal, while not a direct answer to Fox News or Breitbart.com, would give Mr. Obama an unfiltered method of communication with the public similar to the audiences he already reaches through social media, with 101 million Twitter followers and 55 million people who have liked his Facebook page.

“President and Mrs. Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire,” Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, said Thursday. “Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.”

more...

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/us/politics/obama-netflix-shows.html

[HipChick]

1. Excellent!

[LisaM]

2. Yes, but I don't subscribe to (or care to subscribe to) Netflix.

I wish there was another avenue, though I get that most people do have it and I'm an outlier in this regard.

[HipChick]

3. Well

[LisaM]

4. One of my biggest disagreements with the Obama administration

was getting rid of analog TV. I was adamantly against it, and still am. We spend time on a place (an island) where no television reception is available now without cable or satellite. I don't like that. I tried getting a powerful antenna for the new TV I bought and it did not pick up any programming except three shopping networks, two of them in Chinese. I could not get the local networks at all. The "airwaves" are still free and belong to the public, but now there is nothing broadcast over the airwaves.

His show should be on public access television, everyone should be able to access it, and that's the last I'm going to say on the subject.